Suit

Burkhardt Bros. Company|Goodall Worsted Company

1935–40 · wool, cotton, synthetic · Costume Institute

In 1908, Goodall Worsted Co., of Sanford, Maine, purchased the patent for a tropical weight mohair-cotton blend fabric developed by William S. Nutter. Goodall called the fabric Palm Beach cloth and sold it directly to tailors and manufacturers. In 1931 the company began producing suits from that fabric as well. The Palm Beach suit became a summer classic, washable and comfortable to wear, the legendary suit became the staple of the well-dressed man's summer wardrobe.

Artist

Burkhardt Bros. Company|Goodall Worsted Company

Date

1935–40

Medium

wool, cotton, synthetic

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Herman C. Ahrens, 1974