GWG: Piece by Piece - Softcover

Cole, Catherine C.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0864926413 ISBN 13: 9780864926418

Publisher: Goose Lane Editions, 2012

Synopsis

Winner, Alberta Historical Resources Foundation Heritage Award, Canadian Museums Association Outstanding Achievement in Publications, and Redgees Legacy Award
Shortlisted, Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize

Remember pearl-snap Western shirts, Scrubbies jeans, and denim jackets, George W. Groovy, Cowboy Kings, Red Straps?

Take a trip down memory lane and relive the GWG story! Remember the slogans "Anything Goes," "They wear longer, because they're made stronger," and Wayne Gretzky's declaration that "I grew up in GWGs"? GWGs have been a cultural icon in Canada since the company's founding in 1911. Here, at long last, is the complete, lushly illustrated history of the Great Western Garment Company, whose products were staples for some generations and defined cool for others.

This lavish book includes archival photographs, advertisements, product photos, and insights on the long history of this iconic Canadian company. Begun in Edmonton, GWG not only manufactured jeans, but also helped immigrant women support their families, becoming a model of management and labour working collaboratively. GWG eventually became the largest workwear manufacturing company in Canada, providing different styles of work and leisure clothing for men, women, and children, and for the military during both world wars. Although Levis acquired the company during the 1960s and '70s and closed the last factories in 2004, the GWG brand remains a part of pop culture. It is firmly fixed in the Canadian psyche and still holds a place in Canadian hearts.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

Remember these slogans? "Anything Goes." "They wear longer because they're made stronger." Remember pearl-snap Western shirts? Scrubbies? George W. Groovey? Cowboy Kings? Red Straps? If you do, chances are you've owned a few pairs of GWGs in your time.

One of Canada's great cultural icons. GWG was an integral part of growing up in the 20th century. The products of the Great Western Garment Company were as Canadian as hockey, toques, and Tim Hortons, staples for some generations, defining cool for others. When Wayne Gretzky said, "I grew up in GWGs," he was speaking for millions of Canadians from coast to coast.

Here, at long last, is the complete, lushly illustrated history of the Great Western Garment Company, including archival photographs, advertisements, product photos, and insights on the long history of this iconic Canadian company. From its humble roots in Edmonton in 1911 to its final factory closing in 2004, GWG remains firmly fixed in the Canadian psyche and still holds a place in Canadian hearts.

About the Author:

Catherine C. Cole is an Edmonton-based arts and heritage consultant. Her exhibitions and publications deal with Western Canadian labour and social and industrial history. She is the project manager and guest curator of the virtual exhibitions Piece by Piece: The GWG Story and Before E-Commerce: A History of Canadian Mail Order Catalogues and the author of Inventive Spirit: Alberta Patents from 1905-1975.

About this edition

• Publisher: Goose Lane Editions
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0864926413
• ISBN 13: 9780864926418
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 200