Dry goods

Clothing is a word that is derived via French ( confection ) from the Latin ( Confectio ). It usually refers to the series production of garments, but also the garments produced in this way is itself less common the general meaning making, preparation for completely different objects of another kind

Clothing was deep into the 19th century produced traditionally in a family self-sufficiency or by craftsmen who were organized in Europe since the Middle Ages in Schneider guilds and single pieces anfertigten to order. The gradual transition to new forms of production began around 1800. Individual entrepreneurs employed a variety of seamstresses to make make clothes in series, but still sewn in the usual way by hand. With greater demand contracts were awarded to so-called intermediate champion, in turn, seamstresses could work for you, usually paid in homework and extremely poor. Clothing manufacturers of this type first emerged in France and England, while the strict guild bond in the small German states delayed the development. A first notable clothing factory was founded in 1770 in Paris, since 1789 came other establishments in Paris and other French cities. Established in 1799 in Hamburg, the first German clothing store. 1836 took a company for mass production of coats in Berlin to work on, the city developed rapidly into a nationally significant manufacturing and commercial center for ready-made clothing.

Early industrialization

Since about 1850, the clothing was applied as industrial technology on a larger scale. In the 1840s, powerful mechanical looms were developed in 1851 was the American mechanic Isaac Singer a patent for the sewing machine decisively improved by him, 1858, the first cutting machine was available. In the newly established factories worked for the most part women, mostly under oppressive working conditions. Many craftsmen had to completely give up or go as occupationally outclassed workers also in the textile factories, because they could not stand against the competition of mass production the tailor profession. In the long term, remained Flick next tailors, custom tailors left relatively few who use a more sophisticated and affluent clientele.

Modern manufacturing

The contemporary professional image of the clothes maker is not based on artisanal operations, but in the interests of industrial mass production. After pre-made model in different sections, internationally standardized sizes ( standard sizes ) large quantities are produced. The modern industrial clothing manufacturing is strong organized labor, the production is divided into the areas of cutting, assembling the cut pieces and accessories, sewing and quality control. Each employee works only in a respective area. Tailored is usually on electronically controlled systems. For sewing, there are rooms with special sewing machines for every item and every step - for collars, pockets, sleeves, diet, etc. Some machines, for example, for button holes or sewing on buttons, carry out their work completely independently from. On the machines almost exclusively semi-skilled workers are employed. Dress maker, so skilled workers to take over the coordination and control tasks, or particularly skilled activities such as the production of models and styles.

Globalization

Despite the division of labor and use of specialized machines, the assembly remains a relatively labor-intensive industry. This meant that many firms shifted jobs from traditional locations abroad to low-wage countries such as China, for example, the case of textiles a global market share of 50 % reached in 2005. Textile manufacturers calculate with a saving of 20 to 30 percent when they take leave in low-wage countries such as Germany, produce and they explain that the market is dictating to them the low selling prices, which can only be achieved through outsourcing. In the German clothing industry worked at the beginning of the 1970s, yet 150,000 people. 30 years later 100,000 jobs had moved abroad. Similar development in other countries with traditionally highly developed textile industry, such as England and France.