Sometimes, you find vintage clothes and just long to know more about them. This is what happened when I found this great sailors shirt and trousers. These obviously have some age to them, They are by Swears & Wells. The buttons of the trousers have Swears & Wells stamped onto them. The collar of the shirt is detachable The second picture shows the label inside the sailor top and the third some old Swears and Wells labels I found on the internet. Apparently according to these labels they were an outfitters who produced girls and boys school uniform. I have been wondering if this is a school uniform, but have not been able to find anything out on the internet or maybe Sea Scouts.
This second sailor top that has 4-6 hand written inside and has a label with a crest and the words Nelson, Portsmouth in it. This is in the same colours as the Swears & Wells shirt, but the second top (see fourth photo) does not have a detatchable colour. Nelson Portsmouth also does not bring up anything on an internet search. If anyone knows anything or has any information that would be fantastic. The Nelson Portsmouth label is in the last photo.
The stitching on both these look to have been done on a hand sewing machine and they have been hand finished as the trimming is hand sewn.
I would love to be able to trace the history of these 2 uniforms.
I'm not sure if this will help but...I have a photo of my grandfather aged 7yrs c1890 in a white sailor suit with dark coloured necktie/collar. Apparently they were all the rage for boys and girls for quite some hundred years or more. Oddly enough William grew up to marry the great grand daughter of the founder of Swears and Wells - John Francis Swears (Senior). The company originally were hosiers and glovers in New street, St Martin in the Fields c1818, but the sons of John Francis Swears diversified around the 1860s and also ran a 'Lilliputian' warehouse to cater for children - Regent Street. The company became known for women's furs in the 1920s (touchy subject these days). Most boys sailors suits were not worn once they were sent off to boarding school or apparently this would cause a bit of teasing from the other pupils.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kenneth. I have to admit, I was thinking that it was school uniform or cadet uniform and had not considered it was day wear for young boys. This has been helpful and thank you for sharing your family history.
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