The History of Hangers

The first metal clothes hanger was invented in 1860 by O. A. North as a way to save space in his wardrobe. Unlike the triangular wire shape we are familiar with today, the first hangers had an oval-shaped bottom. In 1932, Schuyler C. Hulett made an addition to North’s invention – he added a small cardboard tube to help prevent wrinkles and creases caused by the metal hanger itself. In 1935, a cardboard tube was added to the lower bar as well. While the design hasn’t changed much since the clothes hanger first debuted in 1860, the options have certainly expanded. Today, hangers are made from wood, plastic, rubber, or wire, and many also include padding made from satin or foam. The humble clothes hanger may not be something we think about much, but the fact that it has been around for nearly 200 years with little change speaks to how important it is in our daily lives.