Hippie-dippy mail-order clothes company who sold you kits for making smocks, dresses and even dolls. They were always patterned and had the sewing instructions printed on the back of the fabric. The Clothkits doll was called Kitty.
FASHION
Clothkits
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Do You Remember Clothkits?
Do You Remember Clothkits?
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Anonymous
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The wonderful Clothkits. Fell to pieces after a computer lost all of one year's orders. Our local town's biggest employed killed by 80s computers. May their memory hang on for ages.
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Anonymous
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I used to love the socks and tights - I was born in 1978, so was a clothkit child. I had clothkits legwarmers which I thought were ace when I was 9 and aspired to be a gymnast!
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Anonymous
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My 3 sons and 1 daughter were born in the 1980s - they were known as the Clothkit kids because I made virtually all their clothes from the kits - they were the best dressed children in the village! The clothes were wonderful not only for their looks but for their durability - they got filthy from river water, mud, tree-climbing etc but came up as new every time I washed them. I have never forgotten the thrill of receiving the latest catalogue and choosing the kits I wanted - and being able to spread the payment in 3 cheques - I usually went berserk and spent huge amounts! I was sad when Clothkits expanded to the readymade clothes - this seemed to herald the beginning of the end. I still miss sewing Clothkits - it was an unforgettable era!
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Anonymous
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I actually get tearful when I find a rare Clothkits photo on the internet! It's so much a part of my childhood. Mum would make herself the long A-line sundresses, and often mine would be the same model but in a different colourway (argh! Mother-and-daughter pageant! Except it wasn't anything like that), and Kitty, the doll, would get a matching outfit that was often supplied on the cutoffs...We had the stripey tights and t-shirts too, and padded jackets for winter. The cotton washed so soft - they really were my favourite garments until I was about 10! I'd do anything to be able to make those kits up for children again now, but sadly, they're really hard to find and cost a bomb!
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Anonymous
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Both my children born 75 and 76 wore Clothkits clothes. The Dungarees were brill, different and much admired. My daughter wore the tights and knitted dresses. Ofcourse both of them now hate the photos with them in their Clothkits, but I loved them and I had made the smocks for me and had a stripey knitted jumper. I bet they would be popular again if anyone revived the idea. What happened to the company?
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Anonymous
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You're all right about clothkits. Just mentioning the name produces a nostalgic sigh from people. I've just found a cloth kitty and a cloth kit doll while doing out the attic, and they're still smiling...
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Anonymous
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I remembered clothkits when reading a book recentley called "Brown Owls Guide to Life" and they mentioned clothkits in it I had sundress I loved and literally wore it out, I made a small bag which matched to go with it. Happy memories
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Anonymous
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I worked for Clothkits after I left school. It was a wonderful place to work and we were all very sad when things went wrong. It has been lovely to read all the memories people have, I found it quite emotional. I live in Lewes and have many happy memories of my time at Clothkits.
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Anonymous
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I was no good at sewing but my friend who was a wizz suggested Cloth Kits. I made one whole garment (for me a major triumph) which was a lovely oriental patterned tie jacket. I only (reluctantly) threw it out when it became too small. I decided to search for Clothkits having recently (2007) found a complete untouched kit for an A-line skirt which led me to search for the company on line. One small point why is this item under Toys-Games/Toys when I'd have thought it was more Culture/Fashion?
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Anonymous
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I remember sewing a lovely dress for my partner's grandaughter- the fabric pattern was a complete fairy story with faires, fairy castles and flowers. You could even buy matching soft shoe sandals to make in the same fabric as the dress. Am sure its in the attic somewhere. The kits were just beautiful.
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