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Rayon dress shoes image Utility mark image
Utility Shoes, late 1940s
These shoes were manufactured by Lotus of Stafford and were purchased at the Lotus shop in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.
They were worn to go dancing. The donor remembers wearing them with a full length cream chiffon evening dress with silver and orange bead decoration at the shoulder and waist.
Utility Mark
The Utility scheme was established by the British Government during the Second World War. It aimed to make the most efficient use of the limited supply of raw materials in the manufacture of clothes, household goods and furniture. All utility items were marked CC41, which stood for Civilian Clothing 1941. The scheme continued until 1952.
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