Denim/workwear research - A little Canadiana: Great Western Garment Co.

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A little Canadiana: Great Western Garment Co.

Printed From: denimbro
Category: Denimbro
Forum Name: Denim/workwear research
Forum Description: historical
URL: http://www.denimbro.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3436
Printed Date: 28 May 2022 at 12:06pm
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Topic: A little Canadiana: Great Western Garment Co.

Posted By: HP Sauce
Subject: A little Canadiana: Great Western Garment Co.
Date Posted: 04 Feb 2017 at 8:05am

Somewhat obscure, I know, but I'm betting there might be some Canadians of a certain vintage who can remember when GWG "scrubbies" were the business on your butt.

Swallowed up by Levi Strauss and long gone from its Edmonton, Alberta headquarters, the Great Western Garment Co. nevertheless made some important contributions to denim and labour history.

The Royal Alberta Museum provides a nice little history and collector's resource here: http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/exhibits/online/gwg/en/history/edmonton.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/exhibits/online/gwg/en/history/edmonton.html

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HP Sauce

Replies:

Posted By: Joseph Hill
Date Posted: 09 Feb 2017 at 9:29am

At Inspiration a couple of years ago, there was a large display of GWG pieces. I hadn't heard of them previously.

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My coat has nine buttons, but I always fascinate.

Posted By: HP Sauce
Date Posted: 09 Feb 2017 at 9:44am

Neat. They really were a uniform for a generation of kids, apparently including The Great One (Gretsky), because Levis were just not as freely available to the average Canadian. I also think GWGs satisfied the "cool" factor that kids looked for back then.

Funny how a single pair would retain its cachet from one school term to the next. Being "fashion" in the sixties and seventies was still a competitive sport but much less of a budget-breaker.

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HP Sauce

Posted By: Mr Black
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2017 at 2:22am

I have an old 60's (?) gwg jacket in the attic somewhere that I picked up in the early 90's. Very much like a lee rider in fit.

For some reason I decided to unpick the front label. Must dig it out.

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www.sidewinderapparel.co.uk

Posted By: aho
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2017 at 5:07pm

^on my desk at work sitting in a plastic Target bag, is a pair of 1930's women's GWG's with exposed back pocket rivets, covered in mud, and probably a fair amount of 70 year old manure. I'm in between housing so i haven't had a chance to give them a hardcore washing treatment, but once I do I'll post them here lol

Posted By: HP Sauce
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2017 at 3:05pm

Hurray!

Aho and Mr. Black, you are both now my idols... I am particularly excited by your find, Aho. I'll bet those jeans have an amazing backstory.

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HP Sauce

Posted By: SethATW
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2019 at 5:58pm

A friend of mines grandmother was a floor manager at the GWG factory and few years ago gave me a really great book about the whole history and post Levis buy out of the brand/operation.

https://www.amazon.com/GWG-Piece-Catherine-C-Cole/dp/0864926413" rel="nofollow - https://www.amazon.com/GWG-Piece-Catherine-C-Cole/dp/0864926413