By Candy Shiveley
Contentment Farm Antique Textiles & Vintage Clothing

When you think about clothing labels, many of you probably think of designers like Chanel, Worth or Dior or another well known designer.  But, there are many labels, perhaps belonging to a designer who was not as well known or a store label from an era long past.  These are the labels that are often the most interesting to me, piquing my curiosity and compelling me to learn more.  At times the search for information is fruitless but perseverance can pay off.

An example is the 1930s red velvet evening jacket with the label from Razook’s Importers of Paris, New York, Pinehurst and Lake Placid.  As if the name wasn’t intriguing enough, the locations of the store seemed unusual as well.  As if the name wasn’t intriguing enough, the locations of the store seemed unusual as well.  Luckily, it took only a Google search to uncover an interesting history to go along with the interesting label. 

Razook’s was founded in 1917 in Pinehurst, North Carolina by F. R. Razook and the store is now owned and operated by the third generation of the Razook family with stores in Pinehurst and Raleigh, North Carolina as well as Greenwich, Connecticut.   

It seems that the company would open and close stores following their affluent clients through the social season.  They would pack up the store's inventory into specially designed trunks, and the entire staff of fitters and employees would travel with the collection from site to site.  Rose Razook, F. R.'s wife, would make all the travel arrangements including finding housing for their entire staff.  Over the years they established permanent boutiques in such places as the Breakers in Palm Beach and The Plaza Hotel in New York City. 

 

Another example of an intriguing label that proved to have an interesting story behind it is the one found in a high quality 1920s flapper dress and velvet coat.  Both pieces are trimmed in chinchilla fur with the chiffon dress having metallic ribbon appliques as well as tambour embroidery and beading.  It was obvious that this was not your run of the mill dress and coat and both pieces must have been very expensive when new.  The label found in both pieces read Radlo Two Shops, Boylston St. - Boston. 

Nothing could be found on the internet in the Boston area except for an egg producer by the name of Radlo.  A call to the company was successful, as it seems that the president of the company is the Great Nephew of the owner and founder of Radlo Two Shops, Rose Radlo.  Rose supported her family though the depression with her dress shops catering to a wealthy clientele.

At one point she did have two shops, the first on the corner of Clarendon and Newbury Streets and the second on Boylston Street. 

Rose's husband Abe sold frozen custard in Nahant, Massachusetts where they lived next door to a man who would build his empire on ice cream, Howard Johnson.  While we don't know if this is accurate we do know that Rose's shop sold fine clothing of the highest quality.