I remember going to all 4 stores for fabrics in the 1960's. For a Detroiter they were Sears, Penny's, Montgomery Ward's and Hudson's. My mother made all our school clothes in the 50's and most of the 60's, until I was old enough to make my own. That ended in this area somewhere around 1968. I am sure that for other parts of the country it lasted a bit longer.