Credit: Library of Congress
Media type: photograph
Museum Number: LC-USF34- 011543-D
Annotation: The Zoot Suit’s rise in popularity was first seen during the Harlem jazz period of the 1930s. During WWII, in an effort to reserve fabric for military uniforms, restrictions were placed on the amount of fabric designated for men and women’s clothing. It was also during this time that Los Angeles hosted a series of Zoot Suit riots, disputes between servicemen and the Hispanic men that wore the recognizable suit.
Year: 1942