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Choosing The Bride's Colors
There’s white and then there’s white, then there is all kinds of wonderful pastel colors that make beautiful wedding gowns. If your are not sure what color is best here’s some helpful hints.
Many brides prefer to stay with traditional white...
Pearls Never Go Out Of Style
Pearls have an amazing long history, that is rich is culture. In fact they are one of the most ancient documented gems. Records of commercial harvesting have been found going back over 2500 years ago.
The natural occurrence of pearls is actually...
The Bag Purse!
Women are so busy these days they need a bag purse to keep all the necessary items right within reach! The bag purse, or shoulder bag purse is a large sized purse. Its designs vary, but the common thread is their size. Bag purses are invaluable to...
Trade Secrets for Making Silver Jewelry Last a Lifetime
Silver is a soft metal that requires ongoing cleaning to maintain its original luster, and proper storage to prevent scratches. Any jewelry or other item made with silver will change color over time due to a natural oxidation process with...
Watches From A-Z: A Fun Directory of All Things Watch-Related
Although you probably don't give much thought to that timepiece on your wrist, watches date back to 15th century Italy. Wristwatches gained popularity in the first part of the 20th century, and by the late 1900s, they became less about...
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Stocking and Hosiery Manufacturing
A narrow calf that leads down to a well-turned ankle has something that men find difficult to ignore. When the same leg is covered in a sheer stocking, ignoring it becomes practically impossible!
Women's hosiery as we know it today -- whether the tantalizing Cuban heel seamed stockings that's carefully rolled on for those special evenings or the practical pantyhose worn to the office -- are a far cry from the coarse, hand-knitted wool stockings worn by the peasants of the 17th century.
Not only have the machines invented in [when] been improved upon, a variety of style changes have also been made to women's hosiery during the past half century.
A 1950s invention marked a temporary disappearance of seamed stockings, and the short skirts of the 1960s led to the invention of pantyhose -- passion killers as far as male stocking enthusiasts were concerned.
Modern women seem to have settled on a mixture of the practical with the aesthetically pleasing, with a greater selection of pantyhose being available for day-to-day wear along with a welcome renaissance for seamed stockings.
Modern hosiery manufacturing has to accommodate the high demand for quality goods. From the finest 7 denier sheer stockings, through multi-colored and wildly patterned hose and onwards to practical 60 denier pantyhose, women want the best.
Modern stockings and pantyhose are produced on circular machines that eliminate the need for back seams by knitting tubes that are then 'set' to the shape of the leg. While the first circular machines produced sheer stockings with a reinforced heel pocket, modern machines have eliminated this, offering a better fit regardless of the wearer's shoe size.
The addition of lycra to the stocking yarn is possibly the biggest break-through in hosiery manufacturing; the result being stockings and pantyhose that combine elasticity with the ability to cling perfectly to the leg.
Unfortunately, the addition of lycra to
women's hosiery has one draw-back.
"While lycra's great," says Janine Burke, a beauty consultant and regular customer at www.stockingshopping.com, "I really miss that sheer stocking effect you get with old-fashioned style stockings." A sentiment shared by many a true stocking connoisseur.
Seamed stockings, having made a huge come-back in recent years, are still available but are manufactured using a different method -- one that was used before the invention of the circular machine.
Following the original hosiery manufacturing techniques of the 30s - 50s, flat knitting is used. After the fabric has been produced, each stocking is individually seamed. The top of the seam has a 'finishing loop', a small hole that every seamed stocking has as a result of the machinist turning the welt -- the stocking top -- inside out, in order to finish off.
Once sewn, the stockings are 'boarded'. This is a process where each stocking is stretched over a flat metal leg form and 'set' with steam. The knit tightens, creases are eliminated and the leg is correctly shaped.
Because the process is time consuming, seamed stockings are never cheap. Couple this with the fact that around a third of production -- especially during the production of sheer stockings -- is discarded during quality control and you'll understand why.
While the women's hosiery manufacturing process will undoubtedly continue to evolve, there will always be a demand for the sheer stockings of bygone days that are equally as loved by the women who wear them as the men who appreciate the sight of a 'bit of stocking top'.
Hosiery manufacturing has come a long way -- wear your stockings with pride!
About the author:
Mike Michaelsen is the owner of http://www.stockingshopping.com, an online specialty stockings shop with over 2000 item numbers on stock.
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| fashion net - the guide to all things chic |
| Directory of selected chic fashion, art, luxury, shopping, and work sites. [English and Japanese] |
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| Fashion TV - HOME |
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| Fashion for women -- fashion designers, latest trends, fashion tips |
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| Fashion & Style - New York Times |
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| FASHION Magazine |
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| Fashion Planet: Summer |
| New York-based site looks at collections, trends, personalities and global lifestyles with monthly updates. |
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| New York Fashion -- New York Magazine - Designers, Fashion ... |
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| Fashion Icon |
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| Fashion News on Yahoo! News |
| Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet Shine at "The Holiday" Premiere Fashion Wire Daily ... JAKARTA (Reuters) - Mention the words Islamic and fashion and most people ... |
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| Hint Fashion Magazine |
| Hint Fashion Magazine, featuring fashion news, model pages, photo shoots, designer interviews, beauty reports, party pictures and message boards. |
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