Bill Atkinson was an architect who got into the fashion business purely by accident. He made a square dance outfit for his wife from eight bandannas. The outfit was so popular that he started making them to sell. This venture was very successful, and he soon found a housedress maker, Glen Manufacturing, to make the skirt. This was in 1950.
For twenty years, Glen of Michigan made Bill Atkinson’s casual sportswear designs. In 1974, Atkinson started a new line, Bill Atkinson, Ltd., which lasted until 1982 when it was sold to a Canadian firm, Highland Queen.
“… Bill won the Coty award in 1978 because his clothing was so exciting and well designed. We took over a bank space and built an amazing showroom at 512 Seventh Avenue.