American designers such as Bonnie Cashin, Adrian, Norman Norell, and Mainbocher, which moved its fashion house from Paris to NYC in 1940, rose to international prominence. In the void, New York and Chicago became influential centers for design and manufacturing during and after the war. Shortages of such materials as silk (used in parachutes) and wool (used for soldiers’ blankets) also hampered production. (Coco Chanel, arguably the most famous designer of the time, closed her atelier during the war.) A patriotic streak in British and American women favored native apparel. Paris’ location in German-occupied France made production and export both difficult and controversial. Here’s a look at some of less well-known outcomes related to World War II.īefore WWII, Paris was the undisputed center of both fashion overall and couture in particular.

Yet other industries benefited from the war and/or flourished in its wake. It is little surprise that both the war and “The Golden Age” saw increased innovation and the rise of various industries in the U.S., including domestic aviation, computer technology, and automobile manufacturing.

Suburbs flourished as returning servicemen started families, building materials once again became available, and cheap mortgages were made possible by the GI bill.

The post-war period, often referred to as “The Golden Age of Capitalism,” saw a growing middle class, increased spending on infrastructure, pent-up demand for such items as automobiles and household appliances, and a housing and construction boom. Women and minorities found opportunity that had been denied them earlier in a workforce depleted by men who had gone to fight for their country.

Unemployment, which was as high as almost 25% during the Depression, was 2.2% by the time the war ended. During the war, American factories hummed along at record pace, manufacturing war supplies.

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