New-York tribune., 1900-09-02
A BOOM IN SHIRTWAISTS.
PREPARING FOR ENOR-
NOUS OUTPUT NEXT YEAR-BELIEF
IN POPULARITY OF THE GAR
MENT FOR MEN
MANUFACTURERS
MENT FOR MEN

A decade ago the shirtWaist vas practically IN
known. To-day millions Of dollars are invested In
factories which make nothing else. and the out
put for the last season vas enormous Manufact-
Urers of shirt factory machinery are ALREADY re-
ceiving big orders for fancy sewing machines
which will be needed to fiji next years demands
from the thousands Of "shirtwaist men Who
viii Join the little band Of pioneers who had c1e
nerve to take off their coats this summer. In
porters and makers Of shirtings announce an
array Of new designs and a range OF co.ers
which promise well for the variety Of next a.
sons goods.
1t was about eight years ago that the manu-
facturers began to make shirtwaists FOR women
OF course. women had been wearing them flr
some time before. but not in sufficient quaint
ties attract the attention OF capital Owing
to the great comfort and utility Of the shirt
waist the growth of the trade has been phen5u-
email The demand for soft shirts for men has
increased in relative ratio. The industry IS
centred in this city. where there are many Ia-Ee
factories One firm alone does a business IN
shirts amounting to more than S2OOO Gtr a
year. Another factory receives from 100000 .
100000 annually from the sale OF silk shirt
waists for women. Cincinnati is another shirt
making city, and Cleveland. Chicago. St L..us.
Denver and San Francisco each has several
factories.
SLlTIWdlSJS are now made or many kinds or
material and for all seasons. Wool silk linen
and cotton, and various combinations OF thzss
fabrics. are cut and stitched into comfortable
garments. Each season has brought It's i-r--
vation its something new" necessary iii 2
to the trade, for it prevents to a certain extent
the wearing OF the previous seasons waist
Silk has become popular fabric and much of
it is made near this city. The large output u
the Paterson On j mills is almost entirely
turned over to shirtmakers. AS yet Arne-fcan
silk is not so fine that made in some o,hsr
parts of the world but the industry is compare
lively new here. and the near future viii So Al
Improvement in standards.
The severely plain. but expensive shirt1vsist
seems to have gone out for good The reason IS
that to the eye of the lay buyer the difference
between an expensive plain waist and the mod
crate priced article is not apparent and women
the world over like TO exhibit cost marks in an
indirect way Fine linens and madras viii have
the call next season PercaIes OF printed goods
Will not be used Waists made Of these ma
terials are pretty when new. but are bound T.
fade In colors for next season a wide, range
viii be provided Light spring suggesting
shades Of green will be placed on the market
Other cOlOrs which viii De seen are pink nd
ox-blood. light and dark gray and several shatas
Of blue Tan shades. which have not been
popular for some time. are u have another run.
An enormous quantity OF mems shirtwaists
Will be made. for the manufacturers believe chat
the shrtWaist man is 10 have his day. TNey
are confident that the run Will last for TWO ,-
three seasons If good dressers take up rhs
idea, COatless men may become the regular
thing in warm weather. Opinion is divided a.
to whether the really good dresSers Will IrrS
with favor on the innovation. The waists VAL
have all the fancy stitches and pIeatings uoV
seen in waists for women. and these adornmen,s
Will be on the back as we'll as the front OF the
garments