New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-20
RIBBONS.
THEIR IMPORTANCE TO WOMEN AND IN
THE MANUFACTURING WORLD.

But DOES NOT LESSEN THEIR NUMBERS
THEIR MuLrIrARIous UsEs-Ar THE
DREssMAKERs. THE FLORISTS
AND THE coNFEcrIoNERs.
"Throughout the las; summer" an observing
woman remarked refcctivey the other day'
gown was not gown. really. without ten yai"'
Of streaming ribbons" The statement may seem Il
trine strong but those who TOOK even 'he "o''
casual notice OF feminine attire In the warm
weather will admit that ribbons played h'shiy
important part therein 1t Is stated upon eh'ireiS
Trustworthy authority that many a woman. at
tracted bv a particularly beautiful shade OF 'h's
fascinating article. forthwith bought the ei.''
piece and subsequently busied herseit III scar '"e
for gown to match IT. Even as great as "'s
has the ribbons power grown ana the po''' "
especial interest at present Is that there Is no "'
cation OF its waning at the approach OF autumn"
and winter In the matter of actual quantity more
ribbon Is naturally used in summer thah a' any
other season. the fluffy styles OF thin gowns a."
hitting of its most lavish use as decorat'o"' D",
the sale of richly colored ribbons Tor collars """
belts TO wear with cloth costumes VIII commune
| brisk as ever. and some OF the new French mode's
exhibit an elaborate straplike arrangement Vi
ribbons which forms highly effective pooice
trimming On evening gowns, as usual. rooonS
will be freely employed TO give brilliant nnish'ns
touches. -,
There have been several marked changes III s'S'e
since last year in the ribbon world AS one u
the chief Of these may he mentioned '"e 'o"
nle,e disappearance OF the Dresden or hsu'eu
,,r,o,, This certainly had been hard worked In
tho service and though dainty. had become SO
Enthusiastically common that many women VIII
be thankful to 1t retired In Its place mas coo
a stn tafeta, in plain or shot eHects VIZ"
narrow auarter-inch edglng OF black saun VI W.
vet This in the wider forms, VIII DC ihuo', N''"
for millinery purposes. More antique "'i''" nc
been fashionable at intervals for so long Time
that the latter half Of It's name Is admiraoiy ap-
nronr,ate has another revival this rail- Ne"
.watsred' effects have been devised by the ue
signers and It will probably be prettier IMAM q"
any previous period of its existence.
Tho manufacture OF ribbons in this country dates
back now for nearly forty years. Inc mrs. Ia
tories were established In New-Jersey anu '.' ~,
neghborhood of this city before the wal mn
,hat TINA every piece used was imported Iron'
Europe a little coming from England out d" INC
finer grades from France Now, with the eN'eP
ton OF some fancy varieties, domestic soou' q"
almost universally used here. Their exceiieht au
,,v and beauty of color and design nave causeu
,ho,o 70 suppant the imported ribbons in popular
favor Another consideration Is that they cam ~
course be sold more cheaply than those orous"'
from abroad The great competition "nich mas
sprung up OF late years among American i'o0o''
manufacturers has had the effect of materially re-
duo,no nrices and thus benehting the general
public. , T., >-r,
Although there are several factories IN New
York some downtown and number on the upper
west Side New-Jersey may be called the principal
ribbon State. The city of Paterson. IN parucuiai'
is a centre Of this branch of industry. and has the
largest and Oldest establishments in the country
one of the best-known manufacturers 'here 'oiu
some interesting facts concerning the RIBBON 'raue
a. r,eans a great deal to u.s." he said when the
directors Of fashions decide to frown upon some
,Jn.t 10
Not only must all our dyes and patterns De
changed involving more expense than would De
dreamed OF by not acquainted with the uetaiis
OF the business. but we are frequently ett win
an immense stock OF the suddenly unfashionaoe
goods on hand. Nobody wants them. Then the
only thing we do is to cut the prices down so
low that people will buy them anyway, whether
they want them or You know bargains are
great temptations women" and the manufact-
urer smiled. "even If they have no use for the
thing which IL reduced We sell to the retail
dealers at less than cost. and they manage to dis
pose of the old goods we'll they can Black
is a reliable color TO make. for the reason that II
is always In about the same demand and never
of fashion.
"Of the different qualities of ribbon make.
the best are sold in New York and the other prin-
cpal cities The inferior grades go to the South
and West. where there would not be market
for the more expensive goods. have not found
that the ribbon trade is greatly affected In amount
by the change OF fashions. though the designs
must be constantly changing Ribbons always
used for women's wear. nearly much In one year
as in another. far my experience goes. |
should estimate the output OF all the Paterson
factories alone about 900 boxes a day"
The subject Of belt ribbons is which has been
productive Of small of woe TO wearers
OF shirt waistsand II those did include all Amer
lean women this season It certainly came very
near It, The difficulty was in getting the buckle
and the belt to agree They usually persisted I'm
differing by quarter OF inch in size and
absolutely refusing to work In harmony. As the
matter stands at present there does not TO be
any guarantee that this trouble will be removed.
though 1t may be lessened by the fact that the dry
goods stores are continually charging their list or
sizes In belt ribbons According to report, the
buckle makers quite Independent in spirit. ana
alter the sizes Of their without regard
the CONSERVATION It causes to the ribbon-makers.
The sversmiths remark that it is always possible
to fit their buckles at their own shops While ths
is doubtless true. It IL not always convenient 10 60
to the same place. and II would be great accom-
moda ton women who need fresh belt ribbons
often. 10 be able to buy any required size at any
drygoods store.
One Of the minor which women have recently
found for ribbons Is to employ the narrow widths
as shoe-aces, instead OF the regulation silk tape
Women. however. not the only members OF
society who ind occasion 10 use ribbons though
they are, might be supposed, by far the largest
consumers. SO fixed and widespread has the fash
ion become OF combining ribbons with flowers. that
the florists use thousands OF yards year for that
purpose. Satin ribbon OF a shade which must
match the blossoms exactly is the correct thing
SO particular is OF the chief Broadway florists
about having mis- ribbons accord perfectly with the
flower tints that he has one manufacturer who
turns any shade which he may order The
rose violet carnatlOn to be matched Is sent to
the factory. and the designer thus gets his color d.
rectly from nature. Extremely wide ribbon Is used
on large bouquets theatrical wreaths. and orna-
mental pieces In general One florist gave II his
opinion that very little Of this handsome and costly
adjunct 10 the flowers Is used for anything else
aftsrward thus creating a new market OF consd-
cradle proportions for that kind OF ribbon. This
lavish use Of It for few hours doubtless seems
an extravagant waste 10 many a ribbon-loving
woman. The custom OF putting bows funeral
wreaths is gaining ground constantly. say the
florists.
beautiful boxes and baskets in the confectioners'