Red textured bathing suit

Wool quickly became a thriving industry in New Zealand in the 19th century. Woollen mills manufactured clothes, blankets and other woollen products under a range of labels. The label on this bathing suit is Roslyn Woollen Mills – one of a number of mills in Dunedin's Kaikorai Valley. Bathing suits were made from wool knit until the 1930s and 1940s when wool and lastex blends began to revolutionise the industry. The embroidered Roslyn label is similar to the Jantzen 'Diving Girl' introduced in 1920.

Details

Credit: Image courtesy of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, GH015340
Copyright: This image has CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Designer: Unknown
Garment type: Bathing suit
Material: Wool
Colour: Red
Label: Roslyn Woollen Mills
Date: Circa 1940