Wp Lavori in Corso’s goal has always been to promote fashion linked to cultures and subcultures. Fashion’s archives is vivid and always updating: new clothing, accessories and books going in and out incessantly. WP Archivio aim to tell unknown stories and share topics to grow and make our community stronger.
The bowling shirt truly came to life in the 1950s. Companies such as Crown Prince, Air-Flo, Hilton, and Nat-nast produced shirts that received a time when people loved their big cars , drive-una, bowling alleys and flashy clothing.
Bowlers wanted to shoe their team spirit and unity with unique team shirts.
Team shirts were either embroidered or iron-on lettering, images, logos and sponsor names. Traditionally, the bowler’s first name was embroidered on the front of the shirt , usually over the pocket and the rest of the garment was a canvas to showcase individuality and creativity.
Shirts can be dated by the fabric , construction of the shirt, embroidery and printing.
The height of bowling shirt production was from the 1950s to the 1960s. In the mid-1960s larger companies such as Brunswick and AMF started growing exponentially forcing many small ones out of business.
Today there are only a few bowling shirt manufacturers left such ass Hilton, King Louie and Brunswick.
Pre 1950s shirts are made of gabardine, have no stitching on the outside seam of the collar , have a button loop at the neck and all design and lettering were embroidered and most of the shirts were long sleeved.
Most 1960s bowling shirts were made from 100% cotton or 100% rayon and also had a button look at the neck and embroidered.
In the 1970s, 100% polyester and from the 1980s 50% poly 50% cotton.
Just take these infos in mind at the next flea market hunt!
