Mrs. Franklin Shops Inc. (American, 1923–1976)
Chain of boutiques Mrs. Franklin Shops Inc. begins with Ellen Franklin (born in 1875), in 1915 as she was knitting women’s sweaters and selling them from home. In 1917 was opened The Sweater Shop in Philadelphia. In 1920 she bought new premises for her shop and in 1921 incorporated the business, changing the name to Mrs. Franklin Incorporated in 1923.
In 1927 she opened a branch in New York, and in 1932, a third shop was opened in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Franklin had built a good reputation for her tasteful designs, and she is credited with popularizing knit dresses and suits. By 1938 she had shops in Bar Harbor, Maine, and Watch Hill, Rhode Island, and was operating a factory in Philadelphia, making women’s knitted dresses and accessories for wholesale.
The chain of boutiques was active till 1976.
In 1927 she opened a branch in New York, and in 1932, a third shop was opened in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Franklin had built a good reputation for her tasteful designs, and she is credited with popularizing knit dresses and suits. By 1938 she had shops in Bar Harbor, Maine, and Watch Hill, Rhode Island, and was operating a factory in Philadelphia, making women’s knitted dresses and accessories for wholesale.
The chain of boutiques was active till 1976.