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Kimberly was formed in 1946 by Jack and Helen Lazar and was trademarked in 1947 in New York. Their first product was wool sweaters and soon matching knit skirts were added. The company continued to develop new products made from double knit wool, including dresses, suits, and coats.

At first their garments were made from 100% wool, but they began making mixtures of wool and Dacron and Orlon in the 1950s (to prevent sagging). They were also a buyer of Paris originals, taking a couture dress and adapting it to knitwear. By the mid 1960s Kimberly was one of the largest privately owned clothing manufacturing companies in the US. Kimberly was acquired by General Mills Corporation in 1972, and the company was closed in 1979. Jack Lazar died in 1990 at the age of 79.

Written by kickshawproductions.com


from a late 1940s sweater - Courtesy of fast_eddies_retro_rags

from a late 1940s sweater

Courtesy of fast_eddies_retro_rags

from an early 1950s sweater set - Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from an early 1950s sweater set

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

hangtag from a 1950s sweater - Courtesy of majickal_moon

hangtag from a 1950s sweater

Courtesy of majickal_moon

back of hangtag from a 1950s sweater - Courtesy of majickal_moon

back of hangtag from a 1950s sweater

Courtesy of majickal_moon

from a 1950s knit top/skirt set - Courtesy Black Lotus Vintage

from a 1950s knit top/skirt set

Courtesy Black Lotus Vintage

 from a late 1950s/early 1960s dress - Courtesy of thespectrum

from a late 1950s/early 1960s dress

Courtesy of thespectrum

from a 1960s dacron polyester dress - Courtesy of vickisvintage

from a 1960s dacron polyester dress

Courtesy of vickisvintage

from a 1960s dress - Courtesy of thevintagemerchant

from a 1960s dress

Courtesy of thevintagemerchant

from a 1960s sweater - Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1960s sweater

Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1960s metallic dress - Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1960s metallic dress

Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1960s dress - Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1960s dress

Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1970s knit tunic/skirt set - Courtesy of VanityFlairVintage

from a 1970s knit tunic/skirt set

Courtesy of VanityFlairVintage