Function to Fashion: The Bell-Bottom Story.

With the recent runway revival of the 70's bell-bottoms, we produced an order for a European retailer. As the beautiful pants rolled off our production line, we were curious about the origins of this iconic style. So we did a bit of digging.

Turns out, the bell-bottom’s history stretches back almost 200 years. They started as a functional choice for nineteenth century sailors: easy to remove over boots and easy to roll up to avoid becoming wet during deck cleaning. Bell-bottoms could also be used as a flotation device by filling the pant legs with air and tying the bottoms.

In the 20’s Coco Chanel looked to sailors for inspiration, to make a comfortable garment, yet socially acceptable, for strolling the beach; instead of the constraining formal dresses that most women wore at that time.

Bell-bottoms lost popularity till 60’s hippies, rebelling against prevailing culture & fashion, ignited the style again. Surplus Navy stores became the main source until manufacturers took heed. Entertainers from Cher to the Jackson 5 embraced the style and brought it to the attention of the masses leading to universal adoption in the 70’s. Bell-bottoms died in subsequent decades until the recent Runway revival.

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