Talbott was a knitwear company specializing in women’s dresses and separates. It was founded in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1954. In the mid-1950s Talbott teamed up with French Couturier Hubert De Givenchy to produce a line of affordable ready-to-wear knits for the American market. This collaboration lasted through the early 1960s. In 1966 the company was acquired by a corporate conglomerate, U.S. Industries. In 1967 Talbott introduced the Talbott Travler line which was produced until 1985. In the early 1970s Talbott again began producing a line for Givenchy, this time under the Givenchy Sport label. The company continued manufacturing for the Givenchy brand until a declining interest in synthetic knitwear, and competition from overseas imports, forced the closure of its knitting mill in 1984.
Written by Jennifer Binns of Hollie Point Vintage
