Paper Dresses: A Brief 1966 Fashion Fad

By | September 4, 2018

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In 1966, the Scott Paper Company introduced the world to paper dresses, a type of disposable fad fashion that became a short-lived viral sensation. The Scott Paper Company was overwhelmed by the craze and rather unprepared for the huge influx of sales. In the first six months of offering paper dresses, the company sold more than half a million paper dresses. Other manufacturers quickly hopped on the bandwagon and, soon, paper garments were everywhere. Sales of disposable paper garments topped $3.5 million at the close of 1966. The novelty craze attracted the attention of wedding and formal wear designers and even pop artist, Andy Warhol. 

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Paper Dresses? What About Rain? Or Fire?

The paper dresses weren’t as flimsy as we may think they were. They were made of a disposable cellulose material called Dura-Weave, that had been invented and patented in 1958. The fabric was somewhat fire and water resistant. That didn’t mean that the wearer should swim in the outfit or smoke, but it did offer slightly more protection than traditional paper. The fabric was similar to the material used to make those over-sized bibs patients wear at the dentist’s office today.