Woman in orange swimsuit diving : swimwear embroidered badge

Date1920-1949

Object number00031404

NameCloth Badge

MediumCotton

DimensionsOverall: 80 x 40 mm, 2 mm, 0.002 kg

ClassificationsClothing and personal items

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Gary McPherson

Terms

DescriptionThe plain weave cotton base of this badge has been machine embroidered with a bobbinless stitch. The badge depicts a woman wearing an early orange one piece swimsuit and swimming cap diving into water, with clouds in the background outlined in blue. HistoryMachine embroidered cloth badges were applied to swimwear from the 1920s. They were generally used by manufacturers to signify their brand, though costume motifs such as this one would have been bought separately and applied to the garment as decoration.SignificanceThis badge is a rare example of the costume motifs applied to garments during the first half of the 20th century. The image of the diving woman recalls Jantzen's red diving girl logo used from the 1920s on swimsuits, posters and other advertising media.