Ready to Wear: A History of the Footwear and Garment Industries in St. Louis by Valerie Battle Kienzle
St. Louis was founded as a fur-trading village in 1764. Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, it became a center of fur trading, cotton and wool distribution, footwear, and ultimately clothing production in the 19th century. Few today would believe that the junior dress market segment was born, developed, and flourished in St. Louis from the 1930s through the 1960s. Buyers for high-end New York retailers flocked to St. Louis twice a year to view and order dresses and footwear. But The River City was a leader in shoes and clothing long before it introduced the junior clothing trend. Ready To Wear is the story of the birth, growth, decline, and rebirth of two wearable industries in St. Louis, Missouri—footwear and garments, alike in their end products but drastically different in their production processes. It takes a unique look at footwear and clothing through factual narrative, seldom-told stories, and detailed vintage images.
Take an in-depth look at Washington Avenue—nicknamed Shoe Street USA—located in the heart of downtown. The streets were once filled with bustling crowds of workers, carts, and wagons loaded with raw materials and finished products. The nonstop drone of stitching machines and automated production were heard on every street corner. At that time, St. Louis, the fourth largest city in the US, was a major hub in the footwear and clothing manufacturing industries. It’s been said that the street literally buzzed and hummed with the activity of the two thriving industries. Today Washington Avenue has overcome a period of decline to become an urban, hip destination filled with repurposed buildings and amazing architectural details. It’s a place alive with residences, nightlife, dining options, and businesses. Thanks to the tireless efforts of local preservationists, most area structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Colorfully weaving historical narrative, personal connection, and local lore, Valerie Battle Kienzle transports the reader to the Washington Avenue of yesteryear. You’ll find a surprising fashion-industry hub right in the heart of the Midwest, and a lengthy and impressive history of renowned fashion innovators on every page.
About the Author
Valerie Battle Kienzle is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism in Columbia. She spent the last 40-plus years employed in various writing-related positions—newspaper reporter, corporate public affairs manager, advertising account representative, school district communications writer, freelance writer, and author.
She is a member of the Missouri Humanities “Show Me Missouri” Speakers’ Bureau; The State Historical Society of Missouri; St. Charles (MO) County Historical Society; the St. Louis chapter of Fashion Group International, Inc.; The Wednesday Club of Saint Louis; Daughters of the American Revolution; the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI); and Saint Louis Zoo Friends Association.
Valerie lives in Weldon Spring, Missouri. A lifelong lover of history, she, her mother, and brother share ownership of Beech Hill Farm, a National Register property in Williamson County, Tennessee. The property has been owned by family members since 1796.
Product Specifications
Published by Reedy Press, 2021. Hardcover, 224 pages.
