Narrowly Dating a Momentum (Gay Gibson) Dress

Lori Ammons

Lori Ammons

Registered Guest
I have narrowed the date range on this dress to 1974 - 1980 based on the ILGWU label and the fact that the WPL number is Gay Gibson (Gernes) out of Kansas City, MO. Garment manufacturing had pretty much died out in KC by 1980. I am trying to narrow further. Attempting to determine when "Fortrel" would have been dropped from the fabric label. Fortrel was the Celanese Corporations name brand for their polyester fabric. The patent was filed in the 60s which I was able to determine from Celanese but no one seems to know when the trademark ended. TESS and UPSTO databases so far no help. Anyone have any ideas?
 

Attachments

  • momentumfrontcropped.JPG
    momentumfrontcropped.JPG
    58.4 KB · Views: 248
  • momentumtagcropped.jpg
    momentumtagcropped.jpg
    56.8 KB · Views: 210
denisebrain said:
I see Fortrel mentioned in 1985 in this article.

I believe the dress is mid- to late-70s vintage (which doesn't exactly narrow it down much!).
Click to expand...

I am sure Fortrel polyester is still in use, it just is not labeled with it's trademark name I suspect because the trademark expired and was not renewed. There are other brands of polyester out there but no one uses the trademark names anymore. So, if I can figure out when Fortrel dropped the trademark name I might be able to tell if the garment was more toward the early 70s. For instance if the trademark dropped in 1976 that would narrow my window down to 1974-76. I have also reached out to the Kansas City Garment District Museum and the Kansas City historical society figuring they may know when the brand stopped being made but both facilities are closed due to Covid. Mrs. Sara DeSaix Gernes who with her husband Alexander was the founder of Gernes Garment Company died in 1978. I can't tell if the family had already sold their interest in the company before passing. Although it would make sense if they did say in the early 70s which my have been the reason for Gay Gibson label..but so far that is just speculation on my part. There is a lovely tribute to the Gernes' daughter is was the inspiration for the Gernes Garment Company:
http://dwstine.tributes.com/obituary/print/94565567
 
This is very much like a dress I wore in the summer of 1973. That color and print and style were near identical, but mine had a halter neck. I do not recall the label. I recall the exact year as it was a birthday present from my boyfriend at the time.

And yes, you did a good deal of sleuthing!
 
A lot of Gay Gibson ads from this era are out on Etsy with similar styling and this particular color of orange from what I can tell. Cheryl Ladd modeled for Gay Gibson I assume before she became one of Charlie's Angels. I haven't even regaled you all with the Celanese employee Fred Fortess who along with co-workers filed the patent for Fortrel Polyester...still trying to confirm if the name "Fortrel" was based on his last name. But he became a college professor of textiles in Pennsylvania.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top