JANTZEN
The Portland Knitting Company was founded in 1910 by Carl Jantzen and John and Roy Zehntbauer. In the first years of the company, they produced mainly heavy wool sweaters, gloves and socks. By 1918 they were making a very popular unisex swimming suit, and the company changed its name to Jantzen Knitting Mills.
In 1921, a logo was added to the swimming suit - a diving girl in a red swimsuit. This became the Jantzen trademark. As styles changed, so did the red diving girl, and the style of her suit can be a hint as to the age of the garment.
In the mid 1920s the Jantzen girl donned her cap and stockings. In the 1930s-40s the figure became more streamlined, her swimsuit became a bit shorter and the stripes are gone from the legs. The Jantzen insignia logo is embroidered on the front of her suit in the 1930's. In the 1948 the logo insignia is gone and the Jantzen diving girl has become a bit more streamlined and her suit becomes strapless.
Through the 1920s and 1930s, Jantzen refined their basic swimsuit into the modern bathing suit. Swimwear continued to be the most important part of their business, but in 1939, they expanded into foundations, and in 1940 they introduced a line of sportswear. During the mid and late 1940s, Louella Ballerino did collections for Jantzen. In 1954, the company again changed its name, this time to Jantzen Inc.
By the mid 1960s, the company developed their sportswear manufacturing. The company went public in 1970, and ten years later was purcheaed by Blue Bell. Jantzen still produces swimwear and sportswear today as part of the VF Corporation.
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from a 1920s suit. Notice the cap and stockings
Courtesy of glamoursurf.com
from a 1920s suit.
Courtesy of glamoursurf.com
from an early 1930s swim suit
Courtesy of dorotheasvintagecloset.com
from a 1930 swimsuit
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
 
from a mid to late 1930s swimsuit
Courtesy of vintage-vineyard
from a late 1930s swimsuit
Courtesy of cemeterian
from a 1930s-40s suit. Notice shorter suit and no stripes on legs
Courtesy of glamoursurf.com
 
from a 1940s swimsuit
Courtesy of marie92001
 
from a 1940s swimsuit
Courtesy of vintage-vineyard
from a 1940s swimsuit
Courtesy of glamoursurf.com
from a pair of 1944 shorts
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
from a 1940s sweater
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
from a 1946 swimsuit
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
from a 1946 sunsuit & skirt
Courtesy of denisebrain
from a late 1940s knit dress
Courtesy of bonton
from a 1950s-60s suit. Notice shorter, streamlined logo and strapless suit
Courtesy of glamoursurf.com
from a 1950s men's shirt
Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo
from a 1950s sweater
Courtesy of fast_eddies_retro_rags
from a 1950s swim suit
Courtesy of glamoursurf.com
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from a 1950s sweater
Courtesy of redponyenterprises
from a 1950s wool skirt
Courtesy of vintage-voyager.com
from an early 1950s swimsuit
Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com
from a 1950s bathing suit
Courtesy of pf1
from a late 1950s men's sweater
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
from a 1960s men's beach cabana set
Courtesy of marie92001
from a 1960s swim suit
Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com
from an early 1960s sweater
Courtesy of vintagetreasuresgalore
 
from a late 1960s swimsuit
Courtesy of vintage-vineyard
from a 1970s pair of trunks
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
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