Item 2020.104 - Masters (Fashions) CC41 Tartan Sweatshirt

Identity area

Reference code

2020.104

Title

Masters (Fashions) CC41 Tartan Sweatshirt

Date(s)

  • 1948-1952 (Creation)

Level of description

Item

Extent and medium

1

Context area

Name of creator

Masters (Fashions) Ltd
(1950s–1970s)

Administrative history

Garment manufacturer specializing in utility clothing and sportswear with headquarters and factory in Camden, London. They also opened a clothing factory in Hastings, East Sussex in 1957. The company regularly advertised for skilled production staff including flat machinists, overlocker machinists for jersey, and pressers, from at least 1950 into the 1970s.
Sources: Hastings and St Leonards Observer; Liverpool Echo; Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer.

Repository

Westminster Menswear Archive

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Long-sleeved top featuring a tartan front panel, turn-down collar, and zip neck opening. The collar, sleeves, and back are made from a light beige-pink cotton jersey with a fleece underside. The front is crafted from woven red tartan wool with a check pattern in dark green, yellow, white, and blue. The centre front neck opening is fitted with a short metal AERO zip. An angled pocket on the right chest is jetted in a beige-pink cotton jersey and closes with a LIGHTENING zip. The hem and cuffs are finished with beige-pink cotton ribbing. Size M. The top includes a label at the back of the neck and a CC41 label stitched into the inside right side seam.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

    Script of material

      Language and script notes

      Physical characteristics and technical requirements

      Label: M / MASTERS / (FASHIONS) LTD / LONDON
      Label: CC41
      Measurements:
      Height: 58cm
      Width: 43cm

      Sleeve Length: 51cm (From top of sleeve to cuff end)
      Chest: 49.5cm
      Shoulders: 42cm
      Collar: 20.5cm
      Side seam length: 32cm
      Shoulder point to waistband edge: 54.7cm
      Centre back neck to waistband edge: 51cm
      Collar zip length: 11.5cm
      Front pocket zip length: 9.5cm
      Waistband rib width: 6.5cm
      Cuff rib: 6cm

      Good condition: small area of faded stains to the centre front bottom rib, small hole to the cotton jersey and tartan at the left side seam and ribbing join, hand stitched repair to the right lower side seam, five small stains scattered across the centre back.

      Finding aids

      Allied materials area

      Existence and location of originals

      Existence and location of copies

      Related units of description

      Related descriptions

      Notes area

      Note

      From Inside the Westminster Menswear Archive:

      CC41 TARTAN SWEATSHIRT
      Masters (Fashions) Ltd
      1948–52
      The need to produce uniforms during the Second World War had a significant impact on the fashion and clothing industries in the UK, as production and materials were diverted away from civilian clothing. This sweatshirt top features the CC41 logo designed by Reginald Shipp to indicate compliance with the government’s manufacturing regulations. Introduced in 1941 and used until 1952, they included strict standards for textile production and technical design. The combination of sweatshirting and tartan in this top, along with the zip opening at the neck, is the sort of style that would be more expected in American casual wear. From the end of the Second World War, American menswear was increasingly influential on British styles.
      Wool, Cotton
      Archive no. 2020.104

      Alternative identifier(s)

      Access points

      Subject access points

      Place access points

      Name access points

      Genre access points

      Description control area

      Description identifier

      Institution identifier

      Rules and/or conventions used

      Status

      Level of detail

      Dates of creation revision deletion

      Language(s)

        Script(s)

          Sources

          Accession area