Perennial Vintage Supply: June 2025

Just recently, I picked up a vintage mug for my shop and looked at the bottom of it. It was made by Papel. Papel is a company I've seen for decades. I've owned Papel mugs for years, and I remember seeing it growing up. I just figured Papel was another gift-making company, like Hallmark, that had been around since the '80s.

Well, I finally did a deeper dive into the brand, and what came up totally shocked me: Papel began at Walt Disney's Disneyland in 1955. What? How did I not know this? Papel's mug invasion all started and thrived because Walt took a chance at letting the owner and creator, Phil Papel, set up a small shop on Main Street, USA, of Disneyland. He called his shop "Ruggles China and Gifts." This wonderful storefront was there from 1955 to 1964.

The rest is history.

I'm such a Disneyland fan, have gone dozens of times, love the joy Walt Disney created, and am in awe of his visionary and creative endeavors. I also love vintage mugs, have a slight obsession with collecting and selling mugs, so this combination of two loves into one is sort of over-the-top incredible. I'm having a hard time believing two cherished things - Disney and vintage mugs - get to be celebrated together!

I've had issues tracking down, tracing, and researching other brands of vintage items I sell in my shop. It's as if some designers disappear after having a wonderful career. And if no one is recording the history of the brand, it disappears with them. Which is a horrible shame. Papel, on the other hand, actually has a history (thankfully, his son is making sure the name continues in the history books!) and there's even a website, through his son Stanley, which is remarkable.

Stanley is still making sure his father's legacy is written down, recorded, and known. He's on LinkedIn with lots of information regarding a book or two he's written about his father. The current one is called "Generation to Generation," and you can find it here. I look forward to reading it.

There is another page of information I found about Papel through Phil's granddaughter, Melissa (Stanley's daughter), and it is loaded with images of designs. They were the FIRST company to do personalized name mugs. Amazing.

300 million mugs sold later, even though the mug production is no longer, the history, love, and incredible tenacity of a man named Phil Papel created a corporation that put smiles on millions of American homes over the years.

What a legacy. Thank you, Phil Papel, for your ingenuity and vision for filling a void in the coffee mug industry. And thank you, Stanley, for continuing that legacy.

If you're anything like me, you have had - or still have - a Papel mug (or more) in your cupboards. And guess what? You have Phil Papel to thank for that.

Cheers. May your mug be vintage and your coffee hot.

-Heather

Picture sourced by Stuff from the Park

The fun Papel mug that got me interested in Papel, in the shop!

Love this.

The thing about living on the West Coast is that we don't always get the colloquial style or fashion of designers from the East or South, particularly if the designer is from that area. At least, this is how it used to be before advertising was as big as it is now, which includes the invention of social media. But decades ago, a designer from the East Coast may not have been as popular on the West Coast, all because of locality.

Take Lily Pulitzer, which originated in the late '50s in Palm Beach, Florida. Ask the random girl or woman out here in California who that is, and they'd have no idea. Even today. Ask any random girl or woman in the south or east coast, and everyone would not only know who it is but would probably be wearing something Lily on their person. I've only found a handful of Pulitzer dresses over the years because I'm in California. Head over to Florida, and that changes dramatically. I went thrifting with one of my best friends when I was in Jacksonville last year, and Lilly was everywhere.

So, when I sourced this beautiful John Romain handbag, I had no clue who this was. The bag was worn out, needed a good cleaning and a whole lot of conditioner, and she perked right up. This bag dates back to 1968, and it remains challenging to find information about the Staten Island designer from the 1960s. There is no website dedicated to him and his designs, so all I can find are blog posts from people like me who own these bags, want them, or have a little more historical background. (If John Romain's family is reading this, PLEASE dedicate a website to him, his history, and all of his designs! The designing and fashion world, particularly the vintage world, needs it.)

This one post, written by Arlene Lassin a few years ago, was a fun read, and she gave me quite a bit of info. I also found this little blurb on a Substack blog, Handbag Designer 101, which said this:

Founded by John Romain, his eponymous handbags were a symbol of classic American style and rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s. John Romain Handbags were known for their distinctive combination of high-quality leather and woven fabric panels, paired with shapes and brass hardware, creating a signature preppy aesthetic that appealed to the collegiate and country club set. While the brand faded from prominence as fashion trends shifted, its legacy endures among vintage collectors who value its mid-century design and enduring appeal.

Below is the beautiful bag I sourced. Look at how well it was made, the rivets to the leather. Such quality. Purse is in the shop right now (and in two people's carts waiting to purchase), so get it while it's here! ♥

Have a wonderful weekend.

-Heather