Disposable Panties & other Gems

'Dangerously flammable if washed' warns the package of these vintage Plush Disposable Panties. Whaaat?!! One size fits all, described as 'petal soft.' Paper dresses and more vintage disposables at the web's largest private collection of antiques & collectibles: https://www.ericwrobbel.com/collections/disposable-1.htm

Plush Disposable Panties, one size fits all, package of five. Described on the back as “petal soft.” Made in Mexico of Cellulosic Rayon for General Disposable Co., Palm Springs, California. Tagged Longs Drugs, 99 cents. Package warns “Dangerously flammable if washed.” Say what?

Hallmark 'Flower Fantasy' vintage paper dress is 'the revolutionary paper fashion paper party dress.' Package says 'shorten with scissors to desired length.' Made of 93% cellulose, 7% nylon, and 'fire resistant.' By Hallmark Cards, Inc., Kansas City. Made in USA. More vintage paper dresses at 'Disposable Panties and Other Gems' at the web's largest private collection of antiques & collectibles: https://www.ericwrobbel.com/collections/disposable-1.htm

Hallmark Flower Fantasy Paper Dress “The revolutionary paper fashion paper party dress. Sleeveless, A-Line Shift. Shorten with scissors to desired length. Press with cool iron.” 93% cellulose, 7% nylon. Fire resistant. Hallmark Cards, Inc., Kansas City, Mo. Made in USA.

Candy Wrappers Disposable Rayon Dress. “‘High Fashion Disposables’ features press with cold iron, non-woven material, strong when wet, fire resistant. Misses Dress Model 8550. 100% Rayon.” Mfg. by Mallory Corporation, Dallas, Texas.

Our throw-away culture was just shifting into high gear in the late 1960s, even while environmental concerns were beginning to be heard. Paper dresses? Are you nuts? But hey! If you just throw out your clothes, you don’t have to wash them, right? Saves water! And is it any crazier to squander trees (paper) making clothes than to waste them producing the junk mail I get every day?

Vintage 'Candy Wrappers' Disposable Rayon Dress. 'High Fashion Disposables' mfg. by Mallory Corporation, Dallas, Texas. More vintage paper dresses at 'Disposable Panties and Other Gems' at the web's largest private collection of antiques & collectibles: https://www.ericwrobbel.com/collections/disposable-1.htm

Vintage PaperShape paper dress, fire and water resistant. 'It's disposable. Shorten with scissors.' From Promo Dress Company, Beverly Hills, California. More vintage paper dresses at 'Disposable Panties and Other Gems' at the web's largest private collection of antiques & collectibles: https://www.ericwrobbel.com/collections/disposable-1.htm

And here's Papershape, another paper dress. “Sizes small 6-8, Disposable Dress, Fire and water resistant, press with cool iron, and it’s disposable. Shorten with scissors.” Promo Dress Company, Beverly Hills, California.

Original Pampers package, vintage 1961. More on collecting vintage disposables like paper dresses, panties and such at 'Disposable Panties and Other Gems' at the web's largest private collection of antiques & collectibles: https://www.ericwrobbel.com/collections/disposable-1.htm

If there ever was a product well-suited to disposibility, diapers are it. For many people, the convenience overwhelms any concerns for their chemistry against baby’s skin, and for the several thousand that will go into landfills per average child. Pampers were introduced in the US by Proctor & Gamble in 1961. The other popular disposable diaper brand in the U.S., Kimberly-Clark's “Huggies,” was introduced as “Kimbies” in 1968 with a name change to Huggies in 1978.

There’s more on the strange, contradictory, and ridiculous hobby of collecting disposables here. And don't forget one of the most collectible disposables of all, matches and matchcovers.