OId TWA Uniforms Are a Piece of History

Wednesday 21st of April 2010 07:34:22 PM

Kansas City in the United States used to have a thriving garment district that is now largely gone. But at one time this garment district rivaled those found in London, Paris and Milan. That’s hard to believe now, and that is exactly why some private business people decided the Garment District needed to be honored through preservation.

The Kansas City Garment District Museum is housed in the Burnham Hanna Munger Dry Goods Building that was built in 1901. The museum holds photographs and a number of artifacts. Those artifacts include clothing such as dresses and hats. But there are also old TWA uniforms once worn by TWA stewardesses that were designed by the famous fashion designer Valentino. The uniforms were once made in this historic garment district.

The museum has been in operation since 2002 and recognizes the important role fashion and textiles played in the history of Kansas City. The district was thriving between the late 1800s and the early 1960s leading the city becoming one of the top three clothing manufacturing cities in the United States. Workers in the garment district were often immigrants from countries around the world including the England, Ireland, Germany and Poland. The historical area declined during the 1960s to the 1990s, but it was then redeveloped as a trendy commercial and residential area with nice restaurants and loft condominiums.

Besides the museum there is also a park and nearby historic districts with still-standing buildings dating back to the 1870s. Visitors to the heartland of the U.S. can spend some times viewing historic buildings, going through the museum, and enjoying local cuisine.

There is no longer a garment industry in Kansas City, but the treasures contained in the museum clearly show the days gone long ago when Kansas City was one of the largest producers of clothing in the U.S. This museum is a gem in every way.