Dyes for Victory

DYES FOR VICTORY

This catalog for Aberle’s rayon hosiery colors makes frequent references to the bravery of American women during World War II, with special attention to their fashion sacrifices. On one page the copy addresses women directly: 

When Pearl Harbor became a symbol of perfidy, you gave up silk. When our armies expanded you willingly sacrificed your new-found nylon. Parachutes, gun powder bags- strange uses, these, for the beautiful yarns that were the keynotes of your everyday wardrobes. You looked toward the industrial ingenuity of the stocking manufacturers to develop an alternate yarn. This, so that your charm would continue to inspire and maintain the morale. We could not and have not failed you. We present in the pages to follow the story of an amazing laboratory-improved rayon...

Many of the dye colors on this page (Victory Red, Courage Green, Valient Rose) are named to suggest that they (and the eventual wearer) are part of the war effort. 
 
— Written by Sarah Rich (Art History, Center for Virtual/Material Studies)

Allied Ballet of Color. Fall & Winter, July-December 1942. 105th Triumphant American Season.
Philadelphia; New York: Aberlē, Inc., 1942