D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections and University Archives

Robert and Audrey Bayer Paper Clothing Collection

OS2007.12.1

   

Title Robert and Audrey Bayer Paper Clothing Collection                                  
Creator Audrey B. Bayer
Alt. Creator Robert Bayer
Identifier http://toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/mss/bayer_robert_audrey/default_bayer_robert_audrey.html
Subject Keyword : Robert Bayer ; Audrey Bayer ; Ron Bard ; paper clothing ; Mars Manufacturing Company ; Asheville, N.C. ; Waste Basket Boutique ; Scott Paper Company ; Kimberly-Stevens ; Kaycel ; disposable clothes ; nonwoven textiles ; 60's fads ;
Subject LCSH :

Bayer, Robert

Bayer, Audrey

Bard, Ronald

Mars Manufacturing Company, Asheville, N.C.

Clothing -- Paper garments

Clothing -- Women's clothing

Clothing factories -- Asheville, N.C.

Fashion -- Fads

Textiles -- Non-woven fabrics

Nineteen sixties

Description This collection is primarily composed of newspaper and magazine clippings and advertisements relating to the paper clothing fad of the late 1960's, with a focus on the "Waste Basket Boutique" collection of Mars Manufacturing Co. of Asheville, N.C., owned by the Bayers.  Also included is product packaging and a scrapbook.  A collection of paper dresses are held by Asheville Art Museum and were donated to the museum by the Bayers.

Scott and Kimberly-Stevens paper companies each developed a reinforced paper in the 1950's.  The paper was made of 93% cellulose and 7% rayon or nylon.  Robert Bayer and Ron Bard invented the paper dress in 1965, and it quickly became a novelty commodity.  Mars expanded the line to include a variety of cuts and patterns, including foil evening gowns, paper children's clothes, paint-it-yourself designs, and paper hostess' ensembles with matching napkins and placemats.  By the late 1960's the fashion line lost its popularity and paper clothes were marketed for hospital and industrial purposes.

Publisher D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville
Contributor Mars Manufacturing Company
Date original 1960's - early 1970's
Date digital 2008-11-04
Type Collection ; Text
Format 19 folders and one scrapbook in one OS box ; paper clothing held at Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, N.C..
Source M2007.12.1
Language English
Relation Asheville Art Museum Exhibitions of "Groovy Garb: Paper Clothing from Mars Manufacturing Company, July 6 - October 7, 2007 at the Holden Community Gallery http://www.ashevilleart.org/Previous-Exhibitions/Groovy-Garb-Paper-Clothing-from-Mars-Manufacturing-Company.html ; Mars Manufacturing Company, History -  http://www.marsmanufacturing.com/company_history.html ;
Coverage temporal 1966-2007;
Coverage spatial USA; Asheville, NC
Rights Any display, publication, or public use must credit the D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville. Copyright retained by the creators of certain items in the collection, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Donor Donor Number: 338
Acquisition 2007-12-17
Citation Robert and Audrey Bayer Paper Clothing Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, 28804
Processed by Special Collections staff, 2008
Series Printed material (book, clippings, sales literature, reports and journal articles)

Manufacturer's directions

Correspondence

Product packaging

Products

Scrapbook

ITEM LIST
Box Folder Description
1 1 Book (Walford, Jonathan.  Ready to Tear: Paper Fashions of the 60's.  Canada: Kickshaw Productions, 2007.) (1 item)
  2 News clippings (1966-1986) (12 items)
  3 Newspaper clippings (1999-2007); printed materials relating to 2007 Groovy Garb exhibition by Asheville Art Museum (9 items)
  4 Newspaper clipping and photos of 1967 "Paper Ball" (7 items)
  5 Oversize clippings (1967-1999) (11 items)
  6 Reports; journal articles (8 items)
  7 Newsweek, August 19, 1968 (1 item)
  8 Advertisements, photo ads (3 items)
  9 Advertisements (in TV Guide and A Man's World of Gifts) (4 items)
  10 Advertisements and sales literature (flyers, mail-order forms) (21 items)
  11 Advertisements, order forms for TWA "'Foreign Accent' Flights" flight attendant costumes (7 items)
  12 Oversize advertisements (13 items)
  13 Specification sheets, cutting tickets (17 items)
  14 Specification sheets, cutting tickets, samples, blank forms (25 items)
  15 Designs, samples (10 items)
  16 Designs, samples (10 items)
  17 Correspondence (1 item)
  18 Product packaging (10 items)
  19 Product: 12 napkins, 12 placemats (24 items)
    Oversize scrapbook: photocopies of newspaper and magazine clippings (1966-1968) (1 item)
    Sample paper smocks (4 items)