"So No One Will Ever Know You Made it Yourself"

 SO NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW YOU MADE IT YOURSELF.

This was a slogan for a 1974 advertising campaign for Trylko. A sad indictment of the way that things were heading for English Sewing - or Tootal by then - in the 1970s. In the early days of Sylko, home made clothes were a matter of fact and a matter of pride. All but the very rich made their own clothes and to have the skill to make something that looked fashionable or stylish was something to show off. But by the time that fast fashion was sweeping the High Street, to make your own clothes was just so square. You wanted to get yourself down to Biba and be groovy, not slave over a Singer.

This was an early part of the marketing ramp-up of the closing years of Sylko and Trylko. The above slogan focussed on the quality of the threads - but this isn't enough when people are starting to not want the goods at all. A couple of years later there was a push to get younger people interested in the products with a film and information folders for textile teachers to use in schools. 


In 1976 a co-ordinated display system was rolled out in Woolworths which was named the "Dewhurst Deal". This put together a range of sewing products in an attractive pick and mix way. Still familiar products included Sylko, Trylko, Aero Zips and Glamor Buttons. 

1982 saw the launch of nostalgic products - the ceramic needleholder in the shape of a Sylko reel and the red pincushion and needlecase with the Dewhurst logo printed on. It was a kind of last gasp "REMEMBER ME!" as the death hooters blasted among the cotton mills. 

Some of us do, Sylko, and we curse the demon that is fast fashion.

Read my novella set in the late 20th century - Pollywasher




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