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Here we are at another Thursday here in Aussie land so it is time for a little more about life in the 1890's here in Australia. This week we are looking at the clothing trade during the 1800's the clothing industry consisted of three major sectors those being tailoring, dressmaking and millinery.
Tailoring was divided into coat, vest and trouser making, males were taught to make all garments while females made only one or two items. This led to the deskilling of tailoressess and the setting of low wages. Of course this saw men's wages increase over time, with much of the sewing involved being done on steam powered machines.
The making of shirts, dresses and underclothing was left to the lower paid women to do.
An inquiry into the sweating system in Victoria in 1890 revealed the terrible conditions faced by some workers. It was reported that some women worked between 60 and 84 hours a week making clothes as diverse as dungarees, silk shirts and tweed trousers. One woman who worked 84 hours a week making tweed trousers at eight or ten shillings per dozen earning a total of only 31 shillings for all her work. She was the only one earning a wage as her husband was blind.
Some improvements were made in the late 1890's when the wages board was set up to determine fair wages for factories and rates a piece of work for factories and outwork.
From this time the use of outwork began to drop off as it was less economical and at least on the surface the so called sweated labour less common. However, it was more likely driven further underground as desperate women fought to earn even a few shillings.
A sad chapter in Australia's economy, Jo-Anne. I can't even begin to imagine working such long hours for so little pay!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
No neither can I, nor can most people I suspect
DeleteMy grandmother was a seamstress during WW2 sewing Military uniforms.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool
DeleteTime was extremely tough back then Jo-Anne.
ReplyDeleteThat it was
DeleteWow - that was kind of sad. Interesting tho. I enjoy learning tho!
ReplyDeleteSad indeed and interesting I am glad times have changed
DeleteWe had "sweatshops" here, too, where mostly women worked crazy hours making fabrics and sewing for little or nothing. I'm glad things have changed, but they haven't changed yet everywhere.
ReplyDeleteSo true sadly there are places in the world that have not progressed
DeleteAnd here is where I stop when people say capitalism is the best way. Not a communist by any means, but this really bothers me, and I will love to see their judgment in the end.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that things here in Australia have improved but saddened that it is not the case everywhere
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