These are garments and accessories that rarely find their way into museum collections,[2] making this an unusual and interesting resource for the study of everyday clothing.
In 1920 Edith Hodson established a small shop in the front room of her family home at 54 New Road, Willenhall.
There are a large number of artificial silk and rayon garments that date from the 1920s in the Hodson Shop Collection, with nylon, Orlon, Courtelle, Tricel and terylene being used from the 1950s.
Many of the garments still have their original price tags attached, giving an insight into the purchasing power of consumers at the lower end of the market and the compromises made by working-class people between quality and affordability.
The Utility Scheme was introduced in the United Kingdom during World War II as a response to the growing shortage of materials in the country.