Munsingwear, Minnesota’s giant in underwear production, created knit underwear suitable for the entire family. Marketing this underwear engaged even the family’s youngest. Parents were encouraged to dress their children in “perfect fitting, long wearing, non-irritating” union suits. Children were encouraged to bring their doll to be included in the Munsingwear family; or, in the 1930s, 10 cents would get you two doll undershirts by mail.
Incorporated in 1887 as Northwestern Knitting Company, with a later change in name to Munsingwear, the company produced knit goods in Minneapolis for over 100 years. This undershirt from the Munsingwear archives looks like an advertising sample but is more likely an example of proper knitwear for dressing a favorite doll and encouraging repeat customers.
Linda McShannock, Objects Curator