Vintage Miscellany - December 9, 2012

The photo of this bowling team is dated December, 1956.  I hope they were keeping their minds on their game, and not on whatever is was they needed to get done before Christmas.

If you have your cards addressed, your gifts bought and wrapped, the tree up and decorated, the cookies baked and elves shelved around the house, then take a few minutes to enjoy today’s links.

*   We can’t all be in New York or Paris or London or Milan this December, but thanks to Windows Wear, we can enjoy the holiday windows.

*   Modern scrapbookers could learn a lot from this Victorian scrapbook. via @JayneShrimpton

*   Following the confiscation of more than 600,000 pairs of counterfeit Crocs in China, the authorities actually arrested people and sentenced them to jail time.

*   If you were planning to make a killing on ebay off the Target/Neiman Marcus stuff, don’t bother.

*   Somerset House in London is showing Valentino: Master of Couture through March 3, 2013, and Signore Valentino himself approves.

*   Why we need to be willing to pay more for our clothing:  ”On one hand, brands are telling factories to improve conditions, but on the other hand they’re telling them they need lower prices,” he said. “They have workers at factories making 18 cents an hour to keep prices down, but they recognize that the consequence are egregious situations like this fire.” via @ragsmachine

*  A new report from Not for Sale, an anti-slavery nonprofit,  highlights companies that produce in other countries that are paying decent wages.

*  Not just for patriots:  studies are showing that domestic production of goods might actually be smart.

*   If you have some time on your hands and want a bit of textile loveliness, Cora Ginsburg has her old catalogs archived on her site.

*   Likewise, check out the Tumblr of the Design Center at Philadelphia University.  I especially love the woven Christmas cards.  Several of them are signed by Albert Kluge, the owner of Artistic Weaving Company, a maker of clothing labels.  Remember that fantastic quilt?

*   Are designers commodities?

*   How come the “art” in my local Goodwill is not like this?

*  The spirit of Hanukkah:  ”Something in the human spirit survives even the worst of tragedies, allowing us to rebuild shattered lives, broken institutions and injured nations.”