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{{Short description|American sewing pattern company}}
The '''Simplicity Pattern Company''' is a manufacturer of [[pattern (sewing)|sewing pattern]] guides, under the "Simplicity Pattern," "It's So Easy" and "New Look" brands. The company, now owned by [[Wrights (textile manufacturers)|Wrights]], began in 1927 in [[New York City]]. During the [[Great Depression]], Simplicity allowed home seamstresses to create fashionable clothing in a reliable manner. The patterns have been manufactured in [[Niles, Michigan]] since 1931, but the products are distributed and sold in [[Canada]], [[England]], and [[Australia]]. In some markets, the patterns are sold by [[Burda Style|Burda]], and they are sold by third party distributors in [[Mexico]] and [[South Africa]]. The company licenses its name to the manufacture of non-textile materials such as [[sewing machine]]s, [[doll house]] kits, and sewing supplies.
The '''Simplicity Pattern Company''' is a manufacturer of [[pattern (sewing)|sewing pattern]] guides, under the "Simplicity Pattern", "It's So Easy" and "New Look" brands. The company was founded in 1927 in [[New York City]]. During the [[Great Depression]], Simplicity allowed home seamstresses to create fashionable clothing in a reliable manner. The patterns are manufactured in the US but are distributed and sold in [[Canada]], [[England]], and [[Australia]], in some markets by [[Burda Style|Burda]] and in [[Mexico]] and [[South Africa]] by third-party distributors. The company licenses its name to the manufacture of non-textile materials such as [[sewing machine]]s, [[doll house]] kits, and sewing supplies. Simplicity is now owned by Design Group Americas, Inc, a subsidiary of the British company IG Design Group plc.


⚫
==History==
⚫
Each Simplicity pattern has step-by-step instructions for the cutting, stitching, and assembling of clothes. Simplicity aims to emulate fashion designer clothing, and the company currently produces over 1,600 patterns.
James J. Shapiro (1909–1995) founded the Simplicity Pattern Company in 1927 and was its first president. The company was based on an idea of his father's, Joseph M. Shapiro (1888 Russia – 1968 California), a magazine ad salesman.<ref>{{cite book| first1=Donald L.| last1=Barlett| first2=James B.| last2=Steele| title=America: What Went Wrong?| publisher=Andrews McMeel| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r0QLU3AWmIIC&q=shapiro| page=146| year=1992| isbn=978-0-8362-7001-3| access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| author-link=Robert McG. Thomas| first=Robert McG.| last=Thomas, Jr.| date=June 3, 1995| title=James Shapiro, 85, Innovator In the Home Sewing Industry| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/03/nyregion/james-shapiro-85-innovator-in-the-home-sewing-industry.html?searchResultPosition=1| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| url-access=subscription}}</ref> The company at one point was considered part of the NYSE [[Nifty Fifty]] stocks.


In 1998, the company was acquired by [[Conso International|Conso International Corp.]]<ref>Dalton, Robert W. (June 11, 1998). [http://www.goupstate.com/news/19980611/conso-to-purchase-simplicity-patterns "Conso to purchase Simplicity Patterns"]. ''[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]''. </ref><ref>[http://www.goupstate.com/news/20001122/conso-acquires-massachusetts-company "Conso acquires Massachusetts company"]. ''Spartanburg Herald-Journal''. November 22, 2000.</ref> Conso subsequently changed its name to Simplicity Creative Group, Inc. Until 2007, the company had its main plant in [[Niles, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Simplicity Closing will idle 125| url=https://www.heraldpalladium.com/localnews/simplicity-closing-will-idle-125/article_6e51ccfa-574d-53b5-ab03-ae43f92b2cb0.html| first=Debra| last=Haight| date=June 23, 2007| newspaper=[[The Herald-Palladium]]| location=St. Joseph, Michigan}}</ref>
Simplicity Patterns, like most home sewing patterns, consist of [[tissue paper]] with numbers and instructions written on it. This paper is pinned on the fabric to be sewn. The hobbyist then stitches and cuts along the printed lines to create the finished clothing.


Simplicity Creative Group was acquired by Wilton Brands, Inc. in 2013,<ref>{{cite press release| date=January 2, 2013| title=Wilton Brands Expands Portfolio with Acquisition of Simplicity Creative Group| url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130102005650/en/Wilton-Brands-Expands-Portfolio-Acquisition-Simplicity-Creative| access-date=August 24, 2024| publisher=Wilton Branda| via=[[Business Wire]]| language=en}}</ref> and sold in November 2017 to [[CSS Industries]],<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=157093 "Simplicity Creative Group, Inc."] ''Bloomberg'', retrieved November 27, 2017.{{dead link|date=August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release| url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171103005428/en/CSS-Industries-Acquires-Simplicity-Creative-Group| title=CSS Industries, Inc. Acquires Simplicity Creative Group| publisher=CSS Creative Group| via=Business Wire| date=November 3, 2017}}</ref> who in turn were acquired in January 2020 by IG Design Group plc, via their American subsidiary Design Group Americas, Inc.<ref>{{cite press release|date=January 20, 2020| title=CSS Industries Announces Acquisition by IG Design Group plc| url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200120005407/en/CSS-Industries-Announces-Acquisition-by-IG-Design-Group-plc| access-date=August 24, 2024|publisher=CSS Industries| via=Business Wire| language=en}}</ref>
Novelist and short story author [[Eudora Welty]] claimed that she used Simplicity Patterns for her short stories, that she would re-use the paper and pin her paragraphs to the paper and rearrange passages for greatest effect.{{cn|date=October 2011}}


==Sewing from patterns==
⚫
==History==
⚫
Simplicity Patterns, like most home sewing patterns, consist of [[tissue paper]] printed with numerical guides and instructions. The paper is pinned on the fabric, and the sewer then cuts along the printed lines and stitches the cloth together to create the finished clothing. Each Simplicity pattern has step-by-step instructions for cutting, stitching, and assembling of clothes. Simplicity aims to emulate fashion designer clothing, and the company currently produces over 1,600 patterns.
James J. Shapiro (1909–1985) was the founder and first president of the Simplicity Pattern Company. His father, Joseph M. Shapiro (1888 Russia—1968 California), a magazine ad salesman, developed the idea to launch the firm in 1927.<ref>Donald L. Barlett, James B. Steele, ''America: What Went Wrong?'' Andrews McMeel Publishing (1992).</ref> At the time, producing dress patterns for the home sewing market was the exclusive province of McCall's and other women's magazines, including one long-forgotten publication, Fashionable Dress, that the elder Mr. Shapiro worked for in New York.<ref>[[Robert McG. Thomas|Robert McG. Thomas, Jr.]], ''James Shapiro, 85, Innovator In the Home Sewing Industry'' <u>The New York Times</u>, June 3, 1995</ref>

Some of the licensed brands that Simplicity Patterns Carry are:
[http://www.simplicity.com/c-381-cynthia-rowley.aspx Cynthia Rowley]
[http://www.simplicity.com/c-387-project-runway.aspx Project Runway]
[http://www.simplicity.com/c-690-suedesays.aspx SUEDEsays™] - Suede from Season 5 of Project Runway & [http://www.simplicity.com/c-813-new-look-studio-by-suedesays.aspx SUEDEsays™ Studio] by New Look
[http://www.simplicity.com/c-385-khaliah-ali.aspx Khaliah Ali] - Muhammad Ali's daughter


⚫
==References==
⚫
{{reflist}}
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.simplicity.com/ The Simplicity Pattern Company home page]
*[https://simplicity.com/ The Simplicity Pattern Company home page]
*[http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?page=about.html "About" Simplicity, with some history]
*[http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Simplicity Vintage Sewing Pattern Wiki's Simplicity category page]

⚫
==References==
⚫
{{reflist|2}}
{{sewing}}
{{sewing}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Shapiro, James J.
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1907
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 1995
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shapiro, James J.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shapiro, James J.}}
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:Fashion journalism]]
[[Category:Fashion journalism]]
[[Category:Sewing]]
[[Category:Sewing]]
[[Category:1927 establishments]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:Clothing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Clothing companies of the United States]]

Latest revision as of 06:44, 27 August 2024

The Simplicity Pattern Company is a manufacturer of sewing pattern guides, under the "Simplicity Pattern", "It's So Easy" and "New Look" brands. The company was founded in 1927 in New York City. During the Great Depression, Simplicity allowed home seamstresses to create fashionable clothing in a reliable manner. The patterns are manufactured in the US but are distributed and sold in Canada, England, and Australia, in some markets by Burda and in Mexico and South Africa by third-party distributors. The company licenses its name to the manufacture of non-textile materials such as sewing machines, doll house kits, and sewing supplies. Simplicity is now owned by Design Group Americas, Inc, a subsidiary of the British company IG Design Group plc.

History

[edit]

James J. Shapiro (1909–1995) founded the Simplicity Pattern Company in 1927 and was its first president. The company was based on an idea of his father's, Joseph M. Shapiro (1888 Russia – 1968 California), a magazine ad salesman.[1][2] The company at one point was considered part of the NYSE Nifty Fifty stocks.

In 1998, the company was acquired by Conso International Corp.[3][4] Conso subsequently changed its name to Simplicity Creative Group, Inc. Until 2007, the company had its main plant in Niles, Michigan.[5]

Simplicity Creative Group was acquired by Wilton Brands, Inc. in 2013,[6] and sold in November 2017 to CSS Industries,[7][8] who in turn were acquired in January 2020 by IG Design Group plc, via their American subsidiary Design Group Americas, Inc.[9]

Sewing from patterns

[edit]

Simplicity Patterns, like most home sewing patterns, consist of tissue paper printed with numerical guides and instructions. The paper is pinned on the fabric, and the sewer then cuts along the printed lines and stitches the cloth together to create the finished clothing. Each Simplicity pattern has step-by-step instructions for cutting, stitching, and assembling of clothes. Simplicity aims to emulate fashion designer clothing, and the company currently produces over 1,600 patterns.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1992). America: What Went Wrong?. Andrews McMeel. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-8362-7001-3. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  2. ^ Thomas, Jr., Robert McG. (June 3, 1995). "James Shapiro, 85, Innovator In the Home Sewing Industry". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Dalton, Robert W. (June 11, 1998). "Conso to purchase Simplicity Patterns". Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
  4. ^ "Conso acquires Massachusetts company". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. November 22, 2000.
  5. ^ Haight, Debra (June 23, 2007). "Simplicity Closing will idle 125". The Herald-Palladium. St. Joseph, Michigan.
  6. ^ "Wilton Brands Expands Portfolio with Acquisition of Simplicity Creative Group" (Press release). Wilton Branda. January 2, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2024 – via Business Wire.
  7. ^ "Simplicity Creative Group, Inc." Bloomberg, retrieved November 27, 2017.[dead link‍]
  8. ^ "CSS Industries, Inc. Acquires Simplicity Creative Group" (Press release). CSS Creative Group. November 3, 2017 – via Business Wire.
  9. ^ "CSS Industries Announces Acquisition by IG Design Group plc" (Press release). CSS Industries. January 20, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2024 – via Business Wire.
[edit]
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