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2025-06-08T16:56:52Z

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{{Short description|American sewing pattern company}}
The '''Simplicity Pattern Company''' is a manufacturer of [[pattern (sewing)|sewing pattern]] guides, under the "Simplicity Pattern", "It's So Easy" and "New Look" brands. The company was founded in 1927 in [[New York City]]. During the [[Great Depression]], Simplicity allowed home seamstresses to create fashionable clothing in a reliable manner. The patterns are manufactured in the US but are distributed and sold in [[Canada]], [[England]], and [[Australia]], in some markets by [[Burda Style|Burda]] and in [[Mexico]] and [[South Africa]] by third-party distributors. The company licenses its name to the manufacture of non-textile materials such as [[sewing machine]]s, [[doll house]] kits, and sewing supplies. Simplicity is now owned by Design Group Americas, Inc, a subsidiary of the British company IG Design Group plc.

==History==
James J. Shapiro (1909–1995) founded the Simplicity Pattern Company in 1927 and was its first president. The company was based on an idea of his father's, Joseph M. Shapiro (1888 Russia – 1968 California), a magazine ad salesman.<ref>{{cite book| first1=Donald L.| last1=Barlett| first2=James B.| last2=Steele| title=America: What Went Wrong?| publisher=Andrews McMeel| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r0QLU3AWmIIC&q=shapiro| page=146| year=1992| isbn=978-0-8362-7001-3| access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| author-link=Robert McG. Thomas| first=Robert McG.| last=Thomas, Jr.| date=June 3, 1995| title=James Shapiro, 85, Innovator In the Home Sewing Industry| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/03/nyregion/james-shapiro-85-innovator-in-the-home-sewing-industry.html?searchResultPosition=1| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| url-access=subscription}}</ref> The company at one point was considered part of the NYSE [[Nifty Fifty]] stocks.

In 1998, the company was acquired by [[Conso International|Conso International Corp.]]<ref>Dalton, Robert W. (June 11, 1998). [http://www.goupstate.com/news/19980611/conso-to-purchase-simplicity-patterns "Conso to purchase Simplicity Patterns"]. ''[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]''. </ref><ref>[http://www.goupstate.com/news/20001122/conso-acquires-massachusetts-company "Conso acquires Massachusetts company"]. ''Spartanburg Herald-Journal''. November 22, 2000.</ref> Conso subsequently changed its name to Simplicity Creative Group, Inc. Until 2007, the company had its main plant in [[Niles, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Simplicity Closing will idle 125| url=https://www.heraldpalladium.com/localnews/simplicity-closing-will-idle-125/article_6e51ccfa-574d-53b5-ab03-ae43f92b2cb0.html| first=Debra| last=Haight| date=June 23, 2007| newspaper=[[The Herald-Palladium]]| location=St. Joseph, Michigan}}</ref>

Simplicity Creative Group was acquired by Wilton Brands, Inc. in 2013,<ref>{{cite press release| date=January 2, 2013| title=Wilton Brands Expands Portfolio with Acquisition of Simplicity Creative Group| url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130102005650/en/Wilton-Brands-Expands-Portfolio-Acquisition-Simplicity-Creative| access-date=August 24, 2024| publisher=Wilton Branda| via=[[Business Wire]]| language=en}}</ref> and sold in November 2017 to [[CSS Industries]],<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=157093 "Simplicity Creative Group, Inc."] ''Bloomberg'', retrieved November 27, 2017.{{dead link|date=August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release| url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171103005428/en/CSS-Industries-Acquires-Simplicity-Creative-Group| title=CSS Industries, Inc. Acquires Simplicity Creative Group| publisher=CSS Creative Group| via=Business Wire| date=November 3, 2017}}</ref> who in turn were acquired in January 2020 by IG Design Group plc, via their American subsidiary Design Group Americas, Inc.<ref>{{cite press release|date=January 20, 2020| title=CSS Industries Announces Acquisition by IG Design Group plc| url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200120005407/en/CSS-Industries-Announces-Acquisition-by-IG-Design-Group-plc| access-date=August 24, 2024|publisher=CSS Industries| via=Business Wire| language=en}}</ref>

In June, 2025, the parent company of Simplicity, [[Butterick Publishing Company|Butterick]], [[McCall's]], and Vogue pattern lines was sold to liquidation firm [[Hilco Capital]]. IG Design Group attributed the sale to recent tariffs, a softening market, and the bankruptcy of [[Joann]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Glassenberg | first=Abby | title=Parent Company of the Big 4 Sewing Pattern Brands Sold to a Liquidator | website=Craft Industry Alliance | date=June 5, 2025 | url=https://craftindustryalliance.org/parent-company-of-the-big-4-sewing-pattern-brands-sold-to-a-liquidator/ | access-date=June 8, 2025}}</ref>

==Sewing from patterns==
Simplicity Patterns, like most home sewing patterns, consist of [[tissue paper]] printed with numerical guides and instructions. The paper is pinned on the fabric, and the sewer then cuts along the printed lines and stitches the cloth together to create the finished clothing. Each Simplicity pattern has step-by-step instructions for cutting, stitching, and assembling of clothes. Simplicity aims to emulate fashion designer clothing, and the company currently produces over 1,600 patterns.

==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://simplicity.com/ The Simplicity Pattern Company home page]
{{sewing}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shapiro, James J.}}
[[Category:Fashion journalism]]
[[Category:Sewing]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:Clothing companies of the United States]]

Simplicity Pattern - Revision history

imported>Schazjmd: /* History */ wlink