Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-08-17


All arts or trades are rapidly chang
ing and improving under the careful
painstaking ideas of this practical
age. Yet there is one art that has
failed to advance in q general way
with the others. We refer to the art
of dressmaking, and especially of
dress cutting.
But few people realize the import
ance OF the above statement; yet
within the next few years changes in
ideas and opinions will force tidal
wave over this country that will
swamp everything before it. Like
all radical changes there are many
who will oppose it, yet their opposi-
tion will be carried away with q
strength and rush that will make it ap-
pear as if there was no opposition, while
others will be wise enough to see the
tide that leads to fortune, and quick
enough 10 take it at it's flow.
A few years ago lady that wanted
to be well dressed patronized French
dressmakers, not through force of
fashion, but for the best reasons, the
English and American dressmakers
were not able to produce the fit and
style as were French dress makers.
This was on account of lack OF sys-
tematic methods used In their work
We know full we'll that many will
take issue with US upon this question.
yet an examination of the facts will
warrant the statement here made and
would even admit of stronger argu.
ment.
This questio ON should not be ignor-
ed by any one, and should especially
be needed by the young ladies and
dressmakers of America.
Ideas are constantly changing and
every day brings out new styles and
combinations which must be under
stood in order to satisfy, and no dress
maker is capable of doing the work
demanded of her and for which GUS
toners pay unless she keeps up with
these changes.
Is the average dressmaker able to
meet the demands brought to her by
her best customers at this time? No,
she is not; and why not? In order
to answer this question intelligent y
it is necessary to examine the plan of
training the young dressmskers, and
then see the methods afterwards fol-
lowed. The first thing that occurs. a
young woman concludes she wants
to work at the trade, and goes and
sews three or four months with some
one who is conducting the business.
She is taught but very little of any.
thing but the plain sewing and but
tonhole making, seeing but little of
the cutting and basting of the dress
es that are made in the establishments.
She is taught nothing of scientific
principles, not even knowing such
things exist, and as to the beauty of
outline in form and geometric proper
tion of lines, she has never heard OF
such thing and if her teacher knows
anything more about it than she does
herself, it is a rare occurrence.
No one, after sober reflection, will
say that the training thus received is
beneficial to any great degree, and
in most cases everything done has a
tendency to unfit the worker for good
practical work. About the last week
they are engaged in their apprentice
ship, they are given few lessons in
some antiquated system. which in its
day of glory had neither fit nor style
in it's catalogue of good qualities
With this kind of training or none
at all, the dressmaker sticks out
her shingle and goes to work as a
"tirst-class" dressmsker. Now. the
wonder is rot that they fail in turn.
ing out good work, but that they
can do anything.
There are few worthy exceptions
that 60 to prove the rule, and all such
deserve great praise when the trials
they must have encountered are con-
sidered.
The French dressmaker learned
some time ago the need of a radical
chan ye in such methods. and a few
enterprising far.sighted men went to
work to remove the evil in their own
case, and did 80 to such an extent
that they were able to produce sty-
lish, good fitting dresses upon scien-
tific principles of cutting and making
The results we're that they had more
than they could do at fabulous prices
The knowledge of such work having
been done extended over England and
America, bearing with it desire on
the part of the ladies to have their
dressmaktrs produce for them the
same kind of work. This demand
aroused spirit of emulation upon
the part of the oest city dressmakers
in both countries with result that
is beneficial and is helping to forward
the revolution above referred to. But
the knowledge upon the part of the
people that there was something
better among the possibilities has led
to this uprising, until it has become
universal feeling on the part of the
people.
This demand must be gratified, and
woe unto the dressmaker who tries 10
dam up such torrent, and great pro-
fit will be gained by those who are
shrewd enough to get in the grand
procession.
1t would be profitable to know
the cause of such change in public
sentiment. but it is often difficult TO
understand why a certain wave of SEN
timent passes over a country at GER
tain time, yet it is a known fact that
such things often do occur, but the
greatest factor at work in this case
is the effort being put forth by the
National Garment Cutter Company
and to that company is due great
credit.
Messrs. Pittock i Laverv, repre-
senting the company in the State of
Pennsylvania, have opened instruc-
tion rooms on Main street,. where
they will instruct all desiring it in the
art of cutting by the most approved
methods.
Those desiring to lead in their pro-
fession should certainly see these gen.
tlemen and investigate for them
selves.