Clinton Centennial
Garment Firm Opened in 1936: 60,000 Dresses in Annual Volume
Few persons realize it, but there are a lot of women in far-off Africawearing dresses made in Clinton.
And about the only kinds they'll wear are brightly colored...black and brownseem to be taboo.
That's one of the problems faced by designers for the Clinton Garment Co.,according to Carl Neubauer, general manager of the plant located at 9th Ave. S.and 3rd St.
The firm, whose head offices are in Aurora, IL, located in Clinton inDecember, 1936, in the building once occupied by the Clinton Saddlery Co., andduring the first year built a payroll of more than 80 employees, mostly women.
Today, more than 400 are employed, turning out 60,000 dresses a year, incotton, rayon, corduroy, velvet and wool, as well as synthetics, orlon anddacron.
Designing is done at Aurora for the Clinton plant, as well as branches inSavanna, Spring Valley, LaSalle and Matoon, IL.
The product, in 300 to 400 different styles, is shipped to every state in theUnion, Hawaii, Philippines and England, as well as Africa.
The firm purchased its Clinton quarters in 1945.
SOURCE: Centennial Edition, Clinton Herald, Clinton Iowa, 18 June 1955
