The Fabulous Onesie
The onesie is undeniably a fantastic innovation. It was invented by Walter Artzt in the 1950s. He was quite a prolific inventor and has been described as a Renaissance man with quite a sense of humor. His design for the onesie added a trapezoid shaped piece to the bottom of the front and back of a t-shirt. Snaps were added to the bottom edge of the trapezoid and the front and back then snapped together between the legs. This design kept the t-shirt firmly in place.
While investigating the origin of the onesie, I learned about other inventions by Mr. Artzt that are responsible for a lot of the baby clothing styles we have today.
In 1963 be invented a method of manufacturing hooded garments. Some of the cutest baby apparel today are the ones with hoods.
In 1967 he invented an "infant's garment of the wrap-around type". This wrap around type must be something different than the undershirts that were popular in the early 1960s. The front sections of those undershirts overlapped each other and were secured with ties. Mr. Artzt's design is an outer garment and has no ties.
Mr. Artzt also invented, what is today called, the sleeper. The one piece apparel with feet was patented in 1960. This garment is not only for sleeping. The sleeper is basically a onesie with legs and feet added. Babies wear sleepers all of the time because two piece outfits often leave their tummies exposed because the top rides up as they move about. Also, the sleeper is comfortable, with very few seams and no elastic around the tummy. Having the feet as part of the sleeper is also handy because socks and booties are always slipping off. There are three types of sleepers. One where the leg seams are sewn, leaving no openings, one where the leg seams are not sewn, but fastened together with snaps, and one that has one leg seam sewn and the other closed by a zipper that runs all the way from the foot to the neck edge. The reason for the opening of the leg seams is to make it easier when it comes time for a diaper change.
Along with the implementation of Mr. Artzt's inventions and the new easy care cotton fabrics that need no ironing, dressing today's babies is quick and easy.
While investigating the origin of the onesie, I learned about other inventions by Mr. Artzt that are responsible for a lot of the baby clothing styles we have today.
In 1963 be invented a method of manufacturing hooded garments. Some of the cutest baby apparel today are the ones with hoods.
In 1967 he invented an "infant's garment of the wrap-around type". This wrap around type must be something different than the undershirts that were popular in the early 1960s. The front sections of those undershirts overlapped each other and were secured with ties. Mr. Artzt's design is an outer garment and has no ties.
Mr. Artzt also invented, what is today called, the sleeper. The one piece apparel with feet was patented in 1960. This garment is not only for sleeping. The sleeper is basically a onesie with legs and feet added. Babies wear sleepers all of the time because two piece outfits often leave their tummies exposed because the top rides up as they move about. Also, the sleeper is comfortable, with very few seams and no elastic around the tummy. Having the feet as part of the sleeper is also handy because socks and booties are always slipping off. There are three types of sleepers. One where the leg seams are sewn, leaving no openings, one where the leg seams are not sewn, but fastened together with snaps, and one that has one leg seam sewn and the other closed by a zipper that runs all the way from the foot to the neck edge. The reason for the opening of the leg seams is to make it easier when it comes time for a diaper change.
Along with the implementation of Mr. Artzt's inventions and the new easy care cotton fabrics that need no ironing, dressing today's babies is quick and easy.
