Vintage Finnish Fabric Swatches

[Mangrove]

I found a few of Yhdistyneet Villatehtaat's fabric swatches from the 1950s. At one time they produced 1/3 of all Finnish wool fabrics and yarns. The swatches were individually glued to several hundred tailoring magazines every month. All swatches are around the same size, 6 by 6 cm. The first swatches are around ¾-1 mm thick or c. 400-500 g/m², I figured. Let's start with Finns' favourite colours, grey and blue.

Fabric 7279/4. Vaatturi magazine, number 11/1953.

"High quality melange worsted fabric with light pinstripe". Fabric 7573/7. Vaatturi 5/1954.

Vaatturi 7-8/1954.

Vaatturi 11/1954.

Vaatturi 1/1955.

 

[Tomasso]

I'd wear them all!

 

[Mangrove]

Vaatturi 2/1956.

Vaatturi 3/1956. The fabric is exactly 2 mm thick or around 700-750 g/m².

Vaatturi 6/1956.

 

[Mangrove]

Vaatturi 7-8/1956. Summer cloth, c. 0,5 mm or 250-300 g/m².

Vaatturi 9/1956. Overcoat cloth, c. 2 mm or 700-750 g/m².

 

[esteban68]

great ads with very nice cloths, I'd be happy to have a roll or two of them!

 

[Metatron]

Cheerful looking illustrations, I like them!

 

[Mangrove]

Vaatturi 10/1956. Drapé cloth, c. 0.5 mm or 250-300 m².

Vaatturi 11/1956. Circa 0.75 mm or 300 g/m²

Vaatturi 3/1957. Teal tweed cloth, c. 1 mm or 350-400 g/m²

 

[Mangrove]

Vaatturi 1957. Circa 1 mm or 350-400 g/m².

Vaatturi 6/1957. Circa 1 mm or 350-400 g/m².

Vaatturi 7-8/1957. Circa 2 mm or 700-750 g/m².

 

[Mangrove]

Some fabrics for the summer of 1933 as printed on "Oman kodin opas" magazine. Most of these, if not all, are from Finnish manufacturers.

 

[Fastuni]

Are the top rows knitwear for socks or for cardigans/vests/sweaters?

 

[Mangrove]

Are the top rows knitwear for socks or for cardigans/vests/sweaters?

Your guess is as good as mine. They might also be suitable for scarves. Meanwhile here are some links to old Finnish factory sample books (press "seuraava" for the next page):

1930s Curtain Fabrics
1935 Muslin Scarves
1940 Sock Colours
1940s Paper Furniture Textiles

 

[Mangrove]

British men's suiting fabrics made by CEBA Textiles Ltd. and imported to Finland in 1951, from left to right:

BS 15190/1. Worsted 16/17 oz.
3801/6. Worsted 14/13 oz.
BK 13921/5. Worsted 18/19 oz.
A 1538/6. Worsted 15/16 oz.
9350 Black. Worsted. 16/17 oz.
992/34. Worsted 15/16 oz.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Some of the new stuff from Lear Browne & Dunsford LTD is being made now with the old classic harder finish.

I know of a few other great firms that have been reversing the trend. 16 ounces and over, I'll have to get pics. up to show.

 

[Hap Hapablap]

I would love to know if anyone still makes a proper formalwear black worsted or barathea like the one shown with the morning dress ensemble.

 

[saddler]

Any swatches appear in the wartime editions relating to the M27, M36 & Lotta uniforms?