The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-17
MISCELLANY.
The Clothing Trade of New York.


A history of the march Of trade in this
city during the last twenty years, would
form striking illustration Of the originality
and force Of the American mercantile char
acter. The rapidity with which new busi-
ness IDEAS are generated in our midst, the
vast scale on which they are carried out
and the success Which usually attend their
development, are unparalleled in tie COM
lnercial world, and excite the surprise of
foreigners to great degree than any other
characteristic Of this busy metropolis.
Let US take, as case in point, the ready
made clothing trade. In the hands of a
few men Of rare energy and sagacitv, it has
been changed within fifteen years, from an
obscure occupation, to manufacturing and
commercial business of the highest class.
New York is today the greatest clothing
mart in the world. The cause of this vast
expansion is easily explained. The gar
ments OF the ''slop seller" OF fifteen years
ago, have. been superseded by ready made
fabrics unsurpassed in elegance and excel
lence by any in the world, and actually
cheaper than the uncouth clothipr tbev
have displaced. The men who revolution
lied the business understood the value of
time, in the American market. In minis
tering to the instant supply Of genera!
want, aud doing SO in a manner that left
nothing to be desired on the part Of pur-
cLasers, they displayed profound kuowl-
edge OF the requirements Of their country
men.
We can well recollect when the "slop-
shops were the only clothing emporiu,ns,
and laboring men their only customers.
Now 1t Is all ascertained fact the clothing
business gives employment to greater nun
Der OF hands than any other branch of our
manufactures. The house of Dcvin q, Co..
which ranks first in magnitude and repula.
ton, and is therefore apropos to purpos.s
Of illustration, employs 1000 PERSONS
what other manufactory Of any description,
in New York, gives occupation to an equal
number We remember when the finn
opened their marble werehouse in Broad.
way, how confidently it WAS predicted, by
shallow reasoners who looked ut the exnens.
es, but knew nothing of the business or of
the men, that the enterprise would fail.
Mr. DeVlln calculated differently. he looked
10 Tie whole continent as his field, and felt.
we presume, that, to cover the ground. il
was only necessary to produce clolhipe of
the very highest grade of excellence, and
cell 1t at the most moderate price. This
idea he seems to have reduced to practice.
and the results he anticipated have followed
with the, exactitude of the solution of a
problem The clothing of the concern is a
staple OF fashion ip every city of the Union,
and the name Of the house appears 10 be rs
good guaranty of the superiority of its
garments as is the bank bill. Strange as
as 1t may seem, too, the celebrity of their
ready-made stock is reflected on the custom
department, and viee uersa. Cheapness
and superiority appear to the Alpha and
Omega Of all departments of the establish
inent-in fact, they are the cabalistic words
that have raised the clothing trade 10 its
present remarkable position among the busi.
ness interests of New York. y
There are many other extensive clothing
houses in the city, all flourishing and likely
to flourish, TO which we should be glad to
refeE, i space permitted but as" our only
o3lecs was torgive the uninitiated some idea
os3the vast amount of industry, enterprise
and capital employed in branch of trade
which is Of only some fifteen years growth
among us We selected the leading house,
BY way of example.