Date: c. 1926
Origin: United States
Fabric: Metal
Brand: Wilsnap
These garter buckles were designed to allow women to create their own garters with any piece of elastic, allowing them to adjust the fit to their own body. Most garters were made of fixed lengths of elastic, resulting in a less than ideal fit on most bodies, and meaning that they could not be tightened as the elastic stretched out through wear (indeed, early elastics had a relatively short lifespan and would begin to disintegrate within a matter of years). A patent for these buckles was applied for in 1926 and granted in 1928.
This original retail display comes with instructions for the salespeople that highlight the ease and convenience of the product, underscoring that there is ‘no sewing required’. At 25c a card (approximately $3.50 today), making this an affordable and accessible product compared to many of the ready made garters and suspender belts on the market.
From the collection of Karolina Laskowska
