Interview with DeSaix Gernes

Swanson, Gary

Interview with DeSaix Gernes about her life and involvement in Kansas City's garment industry. She describes her family background and childhood, and recalls her father founding Gernes Garment Company based on reception to a full-skirted dress his wife designed and sewed for DeSaix and neighborhood girls. She discusses the company's success through the Great Depression, the fun of visiting the factory as a child, and details of the business and its different lines including sizing and pricing. She also shares stories about the company's production of WAC uniforms during World War II, her husband and mother taking over the company after her father's death in 1947, and the popularity of the Gay Gibson line, and ultimately the company's bankruptcy filing in 1978.

0:46:11

2005-01-14

Clothing industry

Garment Industry
Gay Gibson, Inc.
Gernes Garment Company
International Ladies Garment Workers Union

The Historic Garment Industry oral history project was conducted by the Historic Garment District Museum in cooperation with the Kansas City Public Library.

Video Recording

Garment Industry Oral History Collection(SC229) See finding aid: https://kchistory.org/document/garment-industry-oral-history-collection-...

SC229, Series 2

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