Clothing with a Purpose

Exploring fashion’s many functions through the collections of The Henry Ford.

By The Henry Ford

Shoe Factory Workers Posing near Rows of Completed Footwear, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1903 (1902/1904) by Commercial Photo CompanyOriginal Source: Digital Collections

Clothing
with a Purpose

Clothing does more than cover us up. It can shape our figures, protect us from the elements, and prepare us for work or play. What we wear can help us express ourselves, remember experiences, and celebrate special occasions. These selections from the collections of The Henry Ford span the wide range of fashion’s functions.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. Mail-Order Catalog, "Ladies' Misses and Girls' Clothing, Fall & Winter, 1907-1908" (1907) by Sears, Roebuck and CompanyOriginal Source: Digital Collections

Staying Warm and Dry

Boy's Galoshes, 1960-1970, Ball-Band Mishawaka Rubber & Woolen Mfg. Company, 1960/1970, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Winter Coat, 1925-1930, Padberg, Madame, 1925/1930, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Stormy Kromer Style Cap, 1890-1910, 1890/1910, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Women's Cape, 1780-1830, 1780/1830, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Wedding of Elizabeth Parke Firestone and Harvey Firestone, Jr., Bride and Attendants, June 25, 1921 (1921-06-25) by Frank Moore Studio (Cleveland, Ohio)Original Source: Digital Collections

Celebrating Special Occasions

Wedding Dress, 1918, Lucile Ltd., 1918, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Boy's Suit, Worn by Richard R. Johnson to his First Communion, 1940, 1940, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

High School Prom Dress, 1970, 1970, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

American Revolution Bicentennial Cutoff Shorts, 1976, 1976, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Crowd Awaiting Demonstration Flights by Wilbur Wright, Hunaudieres Race Course, Le Mans, France, August 1908 (1908-08) by Bollee, Leon, 1870-1913Original Source: Digital Collections

Remembering Experiences

New York World's Fair Souvenir Scarf, 1939, 1939, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

University of Michigan Rose Bowl Sweatshirt, 1990, Nutmeg Mills, Inc., 1989, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Souvenir Baseball Cap From World's Fair of 1982, 1982, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Holly High School "Jamaican Jam" Senior All-Night Party T-Shirt, 1998, Fruit of the Loom (Firm), 1998, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Shoe Factory Workers Posing near Rows of Completed Footwear, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1903 (1902/1904) by Commercial Photo CompanyOriginal Source: Digital Collections

On the Job

Ford Motor Company Shop Coat, 1930-1932, Brownstein-Louis Company, 1930/1932, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Soda Fountain Dispenser's Cap, 1930-1950, Smith Dairy Products Company, 1930/1950, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Postal Service Uniform, 1955-1965, 1955/1965, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Nurse's Uniform, 1957, 1957/1957, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Children with a Dog on the Beach at Far Rockaway, Long Island, New York, circa 1905 (1903/1907) by Glover, L. S. (Lycurgus S.), 1858-1935 and Detroit Publishing Co.Original Source: Digital Collections

At Play

Baseball Uniform Shirt, 1865-1885, 1865/1885, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Bathing Suit, 1895-1910, 1895/1910, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Men's Athletic Shoes, 1950-1955, Ball-Band Mishawaka Rubber & Woolen Mfg. Company, 1950/1955, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Fredrickson Family with Ford Model T during Cross-Country Tour, 1908 (1908)Original Source: Digital Collections

On the Go

Women's Cycling Boots, 1896-1900, 1896/1900, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Duster, circa 1920, 1905/1915, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Motorcycle Leggings, 1915-1920, 1915/1920, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Trade Card for Liddle & Stover Tailors, J.H. Bufford & Co., 1885 (1885) by Liddle & Stover and J.H. Bufford & Co.Original Source: Digital Collections

Creating a Stylish
Silhouette

Crinoline Cage, circa 1880, 1875/1885, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Corset, 1830-1840, 1830/1840, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Bustle, circa 1890, 1885/1895, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Engraving, "Procession of the Boys in Blue," 1876 (1876)Original Source: Digital Collections

Making a Statement

Barack Obama Keds Sneakers, 2008, Stride Rite Corporation, Zazzle.com, Inc., 2008, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

T-Shirt, "Give Mother Nature a Break, Drive a CitiCar," circa 1975, Sunshine State Tee Shirt Company, 1974/1976, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Colorado Silver Bullets Baseball Cap, 1995, New Era Cap Company, 1995, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Infant T-Shirt From Detroit's Eastern Market, 2011, 2011, Original Source: Digital Collections

Show lessRead more

Credits: Story

From The Henry Ford Archive of American Innovation™.

Credits: All media

The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

The Henry Ford

The Henry Ford

Explore more

Related theme

We Wear Culture

The stories behind what we wear

View theme