The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-09-19
A BOOM IN SHIRT WAISTS
Manufacturers are Preparing for En-
ormous Outputs Next Year,

manufacturers are Preparing, for En-
ormous Outputs Next Year.
New York Tribune.
a decade ago the shirt waist wss
practically unknown. Today millions
Of dollars are invested in factories
which make nothing else, and the out
put for the last season was enormous.
Manufacturers OF shirt factory machin-
cry are already receiving big orders
Tor fancy sewing machines, which will
be needed 20 fill next years demands
from the thousands OF "shirt waist
mon" who will join the little band OF
pioneers who had the nerve to take of
their coats this summer. Importers
and makers Of shirtings announce an
array OF new designs and range OF
colors which promise well for the va
riety OF next seasons goods.
1t was about eight years ago that
the manufacturers began to make shirt
waists Tor women. OF course, women
had been wearing them for some time
before, but not In sufficient quantities
TO attract the attention Of ID 'apiv.,: a.: Ow-
ing TO the great comforccind utility OF
the shlrt @alst the growth OF the trade
has been phenoGiGnnnl The demand for
soft shirts for men has Increased In re-
!ative ratio. The industry has conferred
In this city, where there are many
large factories. Que firm alone does a
business IN shirts amounting to moro
than ~, ,OOO,0O0a year Another factory
receives from 5000, 600 to 5000, 900 an
nually from the sale OF silk shirt waists
for women. Cincinnati Is another
shirtmaklng center, and Cleveland,
Chicago, ST. Louis, Denver, and San
Francisco each has several factories.
Shirt waists are now made of many
kinds OF material and for all seasons.
Wool, silk, linen and cotton and various
combinations OF these fabrics are cut
and stitched into comforta BILE garments.
Each season has brought its innovation,
Its something new, necessary thing
OF the trade, for 1T prevents, to cer-
tain eXtent, the wearing Of the previous
seasons waist. SILK has become a pop.
ular fabric, and much OF it is made
near this city. The large output OF the
Paterson IN. } J mills Is almost entire
ly turned over to shirtmakers. AS vet
American silk Is not SO fine as that
made Is some other parts Of the world
but the industry Is comparatively new
here, and the near future will SEQ an
Improvement in standards.
The severely plain, but expensive
shirt waist seems to have gone out for
good. The reason Is that TO the eve OF
the lay buyer the d florence between al
expensive plain waist and the mOder-
ate priced article is not apparent, and
women the world over like TO exhibit
cost marks in an indirect way. Fine
linens and madras will have the call
next season. Percales or printed poods
will not be used. Waists made OF these
materials are pretty when new, but are
bound to fade. La colors for next sea-
son wide range will be provided.
Light spring suggesting shades OF
green will be placed on the market.
Other colors which will be seen arc
pink, red OK. blood, light and dark
gray, and several shades OF blue. Tan
shades, which have not been popular
for some time. are to have another run.
An enormous quantity OF mems shirt
waists will be made, for the manufac-
turers believe that the shirt waist
man " Is to have his day. They are con-
tident that the run will last for two or
three seasons. / good dressers take up
the idea, ooatless men may be the
regular thing" In warm weather.
Opinion 10 divided as to whether the
really good dressers viii look with
favor on the innovatiC The waists
will have all the .Icy stitches and
pleatlngs now coen In waists for wo-
men, and t4ese adornments will be on
the back as well as the front OF the
carmen,