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The Vintage Fashion Guild™ (VFG) is an international organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of vintage fashion.
The Vintage Fashion Guild™ (VFG) is an international community of people with expertise in vintage fashion. VFG members enjoy a wealth of resources, avenues for promoting their shops and specialties, and camaraderie with others who share a common interest and passion.
Whiting & Davis has been known for its high quality and striking handbags since the 1890s. Their patented metal mesh has been supplied to the very best of the fashion industry and has been spotted on the runway in dresses, gloves, and shoes.
The company was founded when Charles W. Whiting went to work for a chain manufacturing company owned by Edward P. Davis. By 1907 Whiting was a partner in the business, and the company was making chain mesh bags from silver, gold and gun metal. In 1912, a process for machine made mesh was developed and Whiting and Davis purchased the patent. This process cut the cost of a bag dramatically, so that mesh bags were available to the mass market. By the 1920s, the bags were being decorated with enamel.
Production of metal mesh halted during WWII to assist with the war effort. Keep this in mind when attempting to precisely date Whiting & Davis handbags. Whiting and Davis is still in operation today, making metal mesh for the fashion industry as well as other industries such as home decor and jewelry.
Written by vintagegent.com
See vintage Whiting & Davis from VFG members on Etsy (paid link)
Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo
Courtesy of vintagegent.com
Courtesy of glamoursurf
from a 1920s metal mesh handbag (stamped on frame)
from a 1940s gold metal mesh purse
from a 1949 hangtag