"Inflation for clothing had doubled from the beginning of the war in September 1939 and May 1941 and a way had to be found to make clothing as cheap and basic as possible while somehow maintaining quality. To these ends Utility clothing, together with the CC41 label, was introduced with the Utility Apparel Order initiated by the Board of Trade. The Government quickly took control of the import and manufacture of raw materials and then supplied cloth to the relevant manufacturers. Even the style of the clothing would become subject to yet more ‘austerity’ regulations and the Making of Civilian Clothing (Restriction Order) was passed in 1942. It forbade any wasteful cutting of clothes and introduced a set of instructions for tailors and dressmakers had to work to. For instance the number of pockets were regulated to comply with the “no fabric on fabric” rule, there was a maximum length for shirts and skirts. Turn ups for trousers, then very much in fashion, were simply banned. Even buttons were regulated and were restricted to three or less." - Mark H