The McMullen label traces its origins to the McMullen-Leavens Shirt Company, established in 1902 in Glens Falls, New York. Founded by Walter Leavens and JR McMullen, the company initially produced men’s dress shirts. In 1936, under the direction of JR McMullen, the business expanded into women’s shirtwaist dresses under the McMullen label.
In 1939, McMullen acquired the Troy Shirt Makers Guild label and shifted men’s shirt production to that name, while continuing to manufacture dresses under the McMullen brand. Both operations were housed in the same building in Glens Falls.After JR McMullen’s sudden death in 1946, the company experienced internal disputes among heirs and designer Dorothy Cox, who had played a key role in shaping the label. Cox left the company in 1952. In 1956, businessman Nathan Sheinman purchased the dress division and moved company headquarters to New York City, though the Glens Falls factory remained active until 1996.
The brand’s visual identity included a shamrock logo, said to originate from a four-leaf clover found by the founders on the site where their factory was later built.
Today, the original factory building in Glens Falls houses historical displays about the McMullen-Leavens Company, including garment examples and original sewing equipment.
from a 1940s dress
Courtesy of thespectrum
from a 1950s casual blouse
Courtesy of listitcafe.com
from a 1950s blouse
Courtesy of The Vintage Vendeuse,
from a 1950s shirtwaist dress
Courtesy of The Vintage Vendeuse,
from a 1950s skirt
Courtesy of Metro Retro Vintage
from a mid 1960s dress
Courtesy of denisebrain
from an early 1970s skirt
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
from a 1970s shirtdress
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
