The Development of the UK Clothing Industry, 1850–1950
Output and Productivity Growth
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8419655 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Andrew Godley (University of Reading), Andrew C Godley (0000-0002-3160-2499, University of Reading, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1995 |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 46-63 |
| Publication date | 1995-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Business History (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0007-6791 • E-ISSN: 1743-7938 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/00076799500000127 |
| OpenAlex | W2002039239 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
The clothing industry was one of the most important sources of employment in the UK economy prior to 1914, especially for women. Yet, apart from the supposed dominance by sweaters, little is known about it. The article considers the long-term development of the industry by providing new estimates for industry output and productivity growth over the period. The 1860s and the 1890s are shown to be the two periods when significantly higher gains in efficiency were generated compared to any other period before 1948. The 1860s was the decade when sewing machine sales began. The 1890s was the decade when sales of sewing machines in the UK peaked, as previously unpublished evidence shows. The article concludes that the industry was almost certainly transformed by the introduction of the new and improved sewing machine of the 1880s and 1890s
Art · Business · Clothing · Clothing industry · Dominance (genetics · Economic growth · Economics · Economy · Period (music · Political science · Productivity · Sewing machine · Textile industry · Crafts, Textile, and Design · Engineering · Fashion and Cultural Textiles · Historical Economic and Social Studies
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,15 |
| Citation span | 1999 - 2025 (27) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |