Help with name of western clothing brand "Lilia..."

[Rennende]

Hi all. I've been collecting clothing from a brand that appears to have been producing clothes mainly in the 80s and 90s. I always have to search using multiple names because I cant figure out which it is. It is either Lilia Smitty, Lilia Guilty, or a secret third thing..

I've attached a few examples of garment tags.

If anyone knows for sure what the brand name is, and even better if you have info on the brand's history, I would be overjoyed!

Thank you!

 

[retro ruth]

I think it might simply be Smith, with the final stroke of the h being a little long and low

 

[retro ruth]

A quick search for Lilia Smith Western Wear brings up loads of results, so I’m now sure it’s Smith

 

[Rennende]

A quick search for Lilia Smith Western Wear brings up loads of results, so I’m now sure it’s Smith

Yes, but my problem is that many results also come up for Lilia Smitty, and Lilia Guilty, and even Lilia Suity, and they are all the same brand.

I agree it could be Smith, but I am hoping someone here has a resource with some information on the brand's history or evidence that it is a particular one of these names.

 

[retro ruth]

Hopefully someone will have information for you. I see what you mean, but I’m still certain it’s Smith. None of the other possible readings are likely, and the script is good for smith

 

[retro ruth]

Our own MagsRags has a Lilia Smith Exclusive dress that is clearly the same maker - same script signature: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/838581575/80s-drop-waist-dress-embroidered-pink

A trademark search brings up Lilia Smith Exclusive registered in 1989 for women's clothing: https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=...TION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch

I think that confirms that the name is Smith

 

[Alleycats]

Here is what I had on one of my very old listings. Lilia Smith Exclusive which was in use from 1989 to 2001. Made in the U.S.A. I have no idea where I got this info or how accurate it is.

 

[retro ruth]

Here is what I had on one of my very old listings. Lilia Smith Exclusive which was in use from 1989 to 2001. Made in the U.S.A. I have no idea where I got this info or how accurate it is.

You probably got it from the trademark info in the link I posted, as it matches.

However it seems that Lilia smith western wear started earlier but perhaps was not trademarked?

 

[MagsRags]

Thanks Ruth! Yes, I have had other Lilia Smith dresses as well.

my problem is that many results also come up for Lilia Smitty, and Lilia Guilty, and even Lilia Suity, and they are all the same brand

I think that comes from some folks winging it, and then others find them in searches, and accept the original guess as fact. We see the same problem with dating sometimes.

The trademark info is pretty conclusive - someone had to type that, not read cursive.

 

[Rennende]

Thank you so much everyone! The trademark info is very useful, exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. Now I will be on a mission to let everyone know, haha

 

[lkranieri]

Yes, but my problem is that many results also come up for Lilia Smitty, and Lilia Guilty, and even Lilia Suity, and they are all the same brand.

...I am hoping someone here has a resource with some...evidence that it is a particular one of these names.

Here is further evidence in this (part of) one of many ads I found for Lilia Smith blouses...

 

[Rennende]

Here is further evidence in this (part of) one of many ads I found for Lilia Smith blouses...
View attachment 189560

Amazing! Thank you so much! May I ask how you found this and what publication it is from (if you know)?

 

[lkranieri]

Happy to help.

The newspaper is the Arizona Republic (and there were many similar mentions in other editions of that paper) and I was able to access it through a Proquest database to which I have access through my graduate school library; try asking your school library about it. Also, many/most public libraries provide access to Proquest, but they usually have only select Proquest packages, which may not include the same package material to which I have access.

PLEASE NOTE: This is posted here for educational purposes only and may not be reprinted anywhere else, for copyright reasons.

 

[Rennende]

Oh how smart. I have tried to do vintage clothing research using the databases my university gives me access to, but it's never been very helpful. There's more of a focus on scientific and literary journals.

I just did a little searching around in proquest and nothing is coming up for the Arizona Republic newspaper or Lilia Smith, unfortunately. I never thought to check with the library though... Thank you!