NYLON SHIRTS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26633, 19 January 1952, Page 3

NYLON SHIRTS

LOCAL MANUFACTURE UNLIKELY Nvlon shirts for men are unlikely to be made in Christchurch, aitnouga all requirements are available. Manufacturers believe that the demand ia so small that production would not be worth while. The desire of many men to own at least one nylon shirt was reported to shirt manuiacturers, but tney said that “a false demand" could appear from a comparatively small number going the rounds of clothing shops. They expressed the view that after buying one Niylon shirt most men would not want more. A suggestion that manuiacture of nylon snirts was not being undertaken because of the possible effects on the demand for tnose in other materials was firmly denied. “Wo could not afford to buck a trend." one manager said. “If there is a definite change in fashion we must provide the goods. But we do not believe that the demand for nylon shirts is real.” In the United States, where nylon shirts were in great demand for a Start, men were turning back to cotton or wool, another manufacturer said. The non-porous nature of tb» material was the chief handicap. Nylon shirts could be very cold in cool weather, and in hot weather many men found that they were nonabsorbent to perspiration and prevented the circulation of air round th* body. For travelling and holidays nylon shirts were popular because they could be dried quickly after washing and could be worn without ironing. However, they did not look really well without some kind of pressing. Fused collars could not be made in nylon, and so the shirts would not be used much for business. The readv sale for women’s nylon underwear and the present vogue for men’s nylon socks were mentioned to the manufacturers as a possible indication that the shirts would have a ready market. They said that thess were more sheer knitted and were more or less airy. The shirts were of heavier woven material “We get sample shirt lengths from American and British manufacturers, and we make them up for trial b* members of our staff,” one manufac turer said. “We just about have to blackmail them to get them to wear nylon shirts.” The firms consulted said there wm no difficulty in obtaining a vairety of nylon shirting materials and that manufacture could be undertake** without altering existing machines They simply did not think that production was warranted. Manufacture took more time than an ordinary shirt but that was not an important consideration.

The price would also discourage buyers. In New Zealand nylon shiri* would retail at about £4, nearly thre<» times the price of an ordinary shirt.