Apron collectors look for vintage styles, contemporary prints

Tag : aprons

By Sandy Erdman
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
Aprons are a tie to our own personal memories and shared histories.They remind us of home, our mothers and grandmothers.
During World War II, homemakers were faced with war rations andrequired to make do with handcrafted kitchen accessories, includingaprons. Because chicken feed and large quantities of flour and ricearrived in floral cotton sacks, they became cheerful kitchencurtains and aprons.
Aprons were later fashioned into homemaker helpers for clothespinsand sewing supplies. The cotton cloth that made up these aprons wasdurable enough to withstand the rough handling, yet would be prettyenough to be considered attractive, enough to make them a propergift to give at weddings, showers and church bazaars. Some of theolder apron fabrics were more plain, mainly in solid colors, andwere usually worn by bakers, blacksmiths and butchers.
What apron collectors are seeking
Apron collectors tend to seek out aprons made during the Victorianera. Some of the styles were made of a course weave material oftenfound as an artistic canvas to show delicate crochet work and otherneedle craft.
Another Victorian styled apron long enough to cover the dresses ofthe day commonly lacked strings or neck straps and were generallypinned into place. Some of these aprons were made of black fabricand were worn by ladies in mourning.
A top half apron that covered the top half of the body continuedthrough the 1920s with colorful trim work and matched theknee-length dresses worn at the time.
These finely handcrafted aprons are not only sentimental favoritesthat envision the memories of the past, but are highly sought afterby designers and collectors of vintage household linens.
Where to find aprons
Aprons can be found at flea markets, at antique and thrift stores,on the Internet and in museum displays. Since vintage aproncollecting is rather new and aprons are still in abundance, manybargains are found around for $1 to $15. Some rarer aprons go for$25 to $65, depending on the apron's quality, length and age.
Today's hot apron trend
Thanks to the character Bree on the television show "DesperateHousewives," flouncy fabric aprons are popular again.
Aprons today can be found in big-box stores, gift and specialtyshops, magazines such as "Elle Decor" and "Country Home," moviesand television commercials.
"It's amazing the buyers who are always looking for aprons and nowmore so for the holidays," Linda Dennis said, owner of Magnolias inWinona,177 Lafayette St.
"My buyers are mainly women who remember their mother orgrandmother wearing an apron, and now during this down economicalcrunch, folks are looking for practical and usable items, such asaprons, and mine are in the right price range."
Sandy Erdman is a Winona freelance writer. Send tips and storyideas to life@postbulletin.com .