Historical information
Kathryn Knitwear, founded by Robert Blake, manufactured high quality children’s knitwear in Melbourne from the 1940s – 1980s. Robert Blake began manufacturing children’s knitwear in his bedroom in Strathmore using a hand powered machine in the late 1940s. The operation moved to Ascot Vale and Essendon, before eventually establishing a factory in Moonee Ponds in the early 1950s. The business continued to expand, necessitating a move to a new factory in Broadmeadows. By 1962, the Broadmeadows factory was producing an average of 20,000 garments per month, which increased to 24,000 by 1964.
Robert Blake’s Son, Brendan recalls that “The Kathryn brand was famous around Australia, anywhere children needed to keep warm and dress smartly. It also won a number of wool fashion awards”, including the 1969 Wool Awards, which was held by the Australian Wool Bureau and published in Women’s Weekly.
The Kathryn range was designed for durability, comfort and care, without sacrificing style. They used patterning techniques that increase stretchiness, comfort and fit, as well as integrating decorative elements into the fabric to prevent them from being bulky, uncomfortable or tight. Making longevity of style a priority, Brendan Blake remembers that “there was one particular garment that was in the range for at least thirty years”.
He also recalls “In the past, when women have found out that I was associated with Kathryn Knitwear, they would often relate to me the story of a garment they had purchased or received as a gift and, when their child had grown out of it, they would hand it on to another child. Several ladies have told me of purchasing garments for their daughters’ glory box, or saving a particular garment after their daughter had grown out of it.
Brendan Blake: “At the peak of their operation they employed approximately two hundred people, mainly women and girls. A family would often seek to send their daughter to work in this company because they knew they would be looked after and safe.
One lady wrote to me telling me that working at the Moonee Ponds Factory prior to getting married was the happiest time of her life.”
In 1963, workers at the Kathryn factory earned £13 per week, which was 8 shillings and 8 pence higher than the minimum weekly wage for female workers in the textile manufacturing industry (£12 11s 4d).
By 1970, the Kathryn Knitwear brand expanded from children’s knitwear into womenswear under the brand name ‘Lady Kathryn’, and for boys and men under ‘Robert Blake’. Continuing to diversify their distribution, they also began exporting ‘Kathryn’ garments to New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Japan.
‘Kathryn Knitwear’ was well-known for their early adoption of modern materials and techniques that had broad appeal to their customer base. This is shown in their early use of the acrylic fibre ‘Orlon’ in the 50s and 60s and ‘Superwash’ wool in the 1970s. Many of Kathryn Knitwear’s styles, particularly those that were long running staples of the brand, were available in both wool and Orlon to suit the consumer’s preference.
Far from the humble origins of one man in his bedroom with a hand-cranked machine; at its closure in 1980, the Broadmeadows factory of ‘Kathryn’ housed more than 100 machines, including 53 sewing machines and 45 knitting machines. Robert Blake was “a passionate advocate for wool and Australian Made” throughout his whole life. A strong thread that ties through the lifespan of Robert Blake and Kathryn Knitwear is a balance between adopting new innovations without sacrificing the core values of durability, comfort, care and style that had made the brand so well known. Their legacy forms an integral part of both Australian social and manufacturing history.
Physical description
White short-sleeved jumper with all-over pattern of aqua blue diamonds. Blue floated threads slightly show through white on main body, leading to an overall pale blue effect on body, with white collar and cuffs. Closes with three pearlescent plastic buttons at back neck.
.2 is a retail tag marked with the style code, and includes generic information on care for garments of different material composition.
Inscriptions & markings
.1) [label stitched into back neck of garment]
KATHRYN
REGD
CREATED BY ROBERT BLAKE
.2) [retail tag, intended to be folded in three, printed on both sides]
[OBVERSE]
KATHRYN
Children’s Knitwear
STYLE: [blue pen] S/35B
SIZE:
PRICE:
/
KATHRYN
Garments are…
• PRE-SHRUNK
• STANDARD MEASUREMENTS
• FIT EXACTLY
• LAUNDER PERFECTLY
/
NOW ..
KATHRYN
GOES TO . . SCHOOL
Ask your retailer for
SCHOOL PULLOVERS
by KATHRYN
[REVERSE]
WASHING INSTRUCTIONS
WOOL
Wash frequently to AVOID HEAVY SOILING
Wash garment BY HAND, in lukewarm Velvet Soap suds. ON NO
ACCOUNT RUB SOAP ON GARMENT.
Squeeze suds gently through garment but DO NOT RUB. Rubbing
will cause garment to thicken.
RINSE AT LEAST TWICE IN CLEAN WATER TO REMOVE
ALL SOAP.
TO dry, roll garment in a towel to remove excess moisture, turn
garment inside out and pull it lengthwise, DRY IN SHADE…
AVOID SUNLIGHT. When dry, place brown paper or pressing
cloth over garment and press with iron at correct heat.
ORLON
Wash as wool Lay flat to dry but DO NOT IRON.
To keep brushed suits like new, brush frequently with nylon brush supplied.
COTTON
Wash by hand for preference in Velvet Soap suds. Rinse thoroughly
in cold water and remove all excess water before drying on line.
Please do not use any harsh detergent or bleach.
Designed and manufactured by ROBERT BLAKE Pty. Ltd., MELB.
(handwritten in pencil)
S35 (untintelligible)/5
/
NOW KATHRYN
GOES TO SCHOOL
Ask your
retailer for
SCHOOL
PULLOVERS
by
KATHRYN
