Retro Goodness: Oilcloth Purses

We love all things retro, especially oilcloth! We just recieved a large shipment of oilcloth purses and pouches . . . just in time for the holidays! 

SO CUTE!  These fantastic purses are just (as my daugthter would say) AWESOME!! Maybe you can pick one up for yourself too!

 

Handmade locally here in Pennslyvania using guinine oilcloth.  Oilcloth is waterproof, versatile and cleans up with nothing more than a sponge and warm water.

 

Okay, so what exactly IS oilcloth?

Originally oilcloth was a heavy cotton canvas soaked in oil or liquid paraffin to make it waterproof (literally "oiled cloth"). In the 19th century it was widely used for tents, rain gear and other water repellent applications. As you might guess, the original oil cloth was highly flammable, and more than a few tents caught fire, often setting nearby buildings, wagons and other structures to the ground.

With the invention of plastic in the 20th century, oil cloth went from being oil-soaked fabric to a soft plastic fused to a canvas backing. The use of plastic allowed manufacturers to print a wide variety of colors and patterns, transforming a once dull brown textile into a brightly colored, inexpensive "oilcloth." By mid-century it was extremely popular for use as easy care table coverings, cook wear and more.

Improvements in plastics manufacturing and printing technologies continued through the end of the century making today's oilcloth better than ever. Modern oilcloth is a now a heavyweight vinyl fused to a cotton-web backing which is not only flexible, colorful and waterproof, but also fire and stain resistant, and slower to fade after long term exposure to the sun.

I think oilcloth just Yummy!  Stay tuned for even more fabulous oilcloth items in the shop including aprons, bigs and splashmats.