[Valley Uniform Center], Archive of Chain-Stitching Samples from Van Nuys, CA, 1950s

[Valley Uniform Center]

Archive of Chain-Stitching Samples from Van Nuys, CA, 1950s

Embroidered fabric sheets (78)

Various sizes, from 3 x 4 to 12 x 15 inches
Many with multiple designs per sheet

$ 4,500.00

Daniel / Oliver Gallery - [Valley Uniform Center], Archive of Chain-Stitching Samples from Van Nuys, CA, 1950s

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This rich and vibrant mid-century archive offers a myriad of embroidered patterns and designs offered by the Uniform Valley Center of Van Nuys, California, most of them utilizing chain-stitching technique.

Present are scores of examples for letter patterns in a variety of different fonts and styles. Among them are various different cursive fonts, often used when utilizing the chain-stitch technique; the “varsity” font, used on letterman jackets; the “chop suey font,” the ubiquitous, stereotypical design seen at Chinese and other Asian American restaurants; and more. Many of these examples - sturdy, “American” names and words devoid of context - are evocative of Ruscha and his Californian contemporaries.

There are also samples from existing establishments and organizations, presumably Uniform Valley Center clients. Among them are Corbin Bowl in Tarzana; Verde Lanes, another bowling alley; Bea Lewiston’s, a women’s clothing boutique; the Largo, a strip club on Sunset Boulevard run by Chuck Landis; the Hi-Riders, a San Fernando Valley Car Club; and others.

The Uniform Valley Center specialized in custom uniform designs for professionals like nurses and waitresses, and for social clubs like bowling leagues and fraternal organizations. The center was owned and operated by Robert “Bob” Salkind, who had come to the valley in the late 1940s and worked for a uniform manufacturing firm before establishing his own business at 4830 Van Nuys Blvd.

A 1959 “Valley Times” article about the center’s move to a bigger location at 6521 Van Nuys Blvd, notes that the growth of the Valley was “reflected in the growth of hospitals, restaurants, beauty parlors and other career fields for women.” And that this growth “brought such a sharp rise In the demand for a specialized uniform sales service, that the premises of the Valley uniform center proved too small.”

The article goes on to describe that the Valley Uniform Center’s “Hand embroidered decorations on uniforms are made to order and these are actively in demand by Hollywood stage and sport stars” and that calls for special uniform designs had recently come in for Leo Durocher and Mickey Rooney.

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