This year marks the 95th anniversary of Black Thursday, the largest stock market crash in the history of the United States, followed by a long economic crisis that swept the world. The consequences of the economic crisis were so severe that many people were deprived of access to basic necessities, from food to clothing. The creativity, spirit of sacrifice, and resourcefulness of American women played a significant role in the survival of families during that time.

As early as the 19th century, households in North America sporadically repurposed textile packaging, in which various processed agricultural products were supplied, into various linens or clothing items. Inspired by this occasional practice, Asa T. Bales, a worker from Missouri, patented in 1924 the idea of packaging specifically designed to be later used for creating clothing. In 1925, he sold the patent to a mill, George P. Plant Milling, in St. L...