Showcased is a late 1940s, possibly early 1950s, school mascot graphic tee from our local hometown, Crown Point, Indiana. It's weaved with a fine combed cotton material, deep orange colored graphic color, raised collar, and single stitch sleeves. While Crown Point is known for their classic red and white school colors, it is interesting to note this is printed with a dark orange ink. Maybe time is to blame for the color fading, but the deep richness tells a different story. Also, it has been observed that every couple years, the bulldog mascot graphic would variate. Always a bulldog, but sometimes a slightly different one. This special t-shirt will now be apart of our shop's archive for a long time to preserve for our ultimate appreciation, remembrance, and nostalgia as a Crown Point student.

Read more about the history of Crown Point schools here.

The University of Notre Dame was established November 26, 1842, when a young French priest, Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., and seven companions, all of them members of the recently established Congregation of Holy Cross, took possession of 524 acres that the bishop of Vincennes had given them in the Indiana mission fields. With only $310 in his pocket and a dream to build a prestigious Catholic univesity– Father Sorin fulfilled those dreams as the school stands strong today, almost 183 years later.

Weaved of a golden yellow, all cotton material with a classic flock printed graphic of the school's bold block letter logo and matching font script underneath. The underarms are both fitted with expansion gusset paneling construction with an overlock stitch used all around the rest of the garment.

Sharples is an unincorporated mining community in the southern hills of Logan County, West Virginia. With an estimated population of only 235 current residents, the place was rooted in tight personal relationships and built with a strong sense of community. It also has a historical significance in American history— playing a role in the infamous Battle of Blair Mountain of 1921. The Battle of Blair Mountain is considered the largest labor uprising in United States history where over 10,000 armed miners marched towards Mingo County, West Virginia in efforts to free all illegally held miners and establish a union in their southern region. The end resulted in a lot of grieving families, no unionization, and over 1,200 federal indictments.

This zip-up sweatshirt comes from a very small class who attended Sharples High School. It was luckily kept in pristine condition for its age of almost 75 plus years, preserving the overall softness of the cotton fibers. It features a Crown branded spring-lock zipper closure, striped knit cuffs and collar, slanted hand pockets, and a water based graphic print of the school’s mascot. Now we are grateful to have this as part of our archive and personal vintage collection at the shop.

Originally found in a southside Chicago estate, this early 1960s comical sweatshirt features a famously reproduced graphic of a running rabbit wearing glasses in a water-based print across the front. The colors of red and blue stand out on top a faded yellow cotton base fabric, with overlock stitching throughout its construction and overall excellent, preserved condition for the age.

The brand Nani was founded in 1949 by a woman named Betty Roberson. Nani, which means beautiful, made a wide range of printed Hawaiian sportswear including men’s and women’s apparel. By 1951 with booming success, Jantzen would go on to absorb Nani as their own– still maintaining Betty as their lead designer for all things under her brand. While the 1950s saw the most in sales, by 1964 the brand would liquidate and no longer sell their iconic prints. Nonetheless, this shirt is still around today to admire with the original 'Nani of Hawaii' label tag still perfectly attached at the collar.

This particular shirt features an all over outrigger canoe and sailboat pattern printed on a silky smooth burnt orange colored rayon material, bamboo wood button front, single squared chest pocket, Hawaiian/Polynesian style geometric border print around the collar, back shoulders, and button front. This may be an earlier made shirt by the Nani brand– as the woven label tag and absence of any other symbols besides the location of Honolulu. In perfect condition, this beautiful vintage Hawaiian shirt will be staying out for a while in our shop.

Manufactured by E&W Clothing House, this 1950s ‘Polar Quality Outerwear’ gabardine jacket features a gorgeous faded orange material, vertical torso pleats with visible brown single-needle edge stitching, and a heavy quilted liner interior. The zipper pull is made by Crown and features a matching colored leather tassel pull for easier zipping.

E&W was established in 1889 in Freeport, Illinois. The first store was opened on the south side of Main Street between Walnut and Galina. The 'E' stood for Ennenga, named after the founder George Ennenga and the 'W' stood for Wagner, his father in-law and original business partner. Specializing in men's fine clothing, the store's initial inventory consisted of frock coats and top hats to knickers and Norfolk-style outerwear. After over a century in business, E&W would close its doors in 1990 but leave behind some of the best looking vintage garments today.

This absolutely stunning work shirt dates back to the 1930s, and features a range of amazing details including a grey salt and pepper colored chambray cotton fabric, chin strap tab collar, catseye metal buttons, and gorgeous repairs. While the origins of salt and pepper fabric are a bit of a mystery, it has historical contexts dating all the way back to the Middle Ages— being used for intricate tapestries and seen as a symbol of sophistication amongst society's elites.

The subtle blend of dark threads against light creates such a color that matches almost any outfit and can be worn interchangeably among all different colors of trousers. The intense amount of hand repairs and reconstruction all throughout this shirt makes for a truly remarkable and wearable piece of American workwear history that is almost a century old.

This absolute beautiful woven flannel shirt was pulled from an estate near our shop and felt it was only right to be shown off here as part of our archive collection. It features a black, white, and grey woven, heavy sanforized cotton plaid fabric, expansion gusset notches sewn into each hip seam, a full six-button front closure, and one of the best labels for any flannel— an all embroidered, stitched down Penneys Big Mac tag at the collar.

During the 1960s, counterculture was on the rise for young Americans. The hardships of war, political unrest, and authoritative governments sparked a rebel instinct in the hearts of many. Beginning in the '60s, hippie shops and smoke shops alike started to produce what we know now as some of the most important protest clothing in recent history. While the exact place this shirt was sold may always remain a mystery, the origins of the phrase suggest the boom of marijuana growing coming from Mexico during the time. The phrase "God Is Alive & Well In Mexico City" refers to the psychoactive properties of cannabis and the enlightenment gained from recreational use. Other meanings could also be deemed plausible, but an exact matching design was discovered and traced back to a local New York City hippie shop called Underground Uplift Unlimited, located at 28 St Marks Place, Manhattan, and operated from 1967 through 1971. This tee is tagged by Hanes, made of a soft cotton fabric, and features a reinforced neck collar for added wear support.

Chanute Air Force Base was established by the U.S. government in the early summer of 1917. Leasing roughly 650 acres of land in agricultural Illinois to begin training operations for young WWI pilots. During the 1940s, Chanute Air Force Base would become one of our country’s leading state-of-the-art military facilities, strengthening thousands of ground troops and boosting air defense training techniques for the second world war.

Eventually, Chanute Air Force Base would see its final days in 1993 when it’s glory would be ultimately striped— and the site be deemed a health and safety hazard to the surrounding environment from decades of experimental testing and equipment waste.

Originating in the 1930s from the A-3 and A-5 model flight trousers, the later B-1 model would be standard issue for any ground crew members and flight mechanics working in harsh, cold temperatures that didn’t involve flying. Sometimes, flight and ground crew service members would trade clothing to better fit their taste in style and lead to mismatched sets.

These trousers feature a thick brown sheepskin leather shell, shearling lining throughout the whole garment, Talon branded zippers on the fly and ankle zips, and elastic suspenders with a silver ‘ARMY AIR FORCES’ print near the waist.