New-York tribune., 1902-08-18
HOW SHIRT WAISTS ARE MADE.
WHERE THEY ARE TURNED OUT AT THE
RATE OF SIX HUNDRED DOZEN A DAY

RATE OF SIX HUNDRED DOZEN a DAY.
n these davs the song Of the shirt is hummed,
as II were bv sewing machines by electricity
and the who operate these have no tne
TO sing to hum. either; neither 90 they give
their attention to and gusset and band. for
this is an age Of specialties. The shirt waist bu5l-
ness has its speciaIties well as everything else
so that one woman devotes her attention TO the
seams while another takes care OF the bands but
the gusset takes care If itself. as there are none
TO seen upon up to date woman's SHIRT
waist.
In one of the largest shirt waist factories in this
city the material is put in the slot at one end OF
the factory and out in completed SHIRT waists
of exquisite make at the other and at the
OF 601 dozen a day
The factory IS eight stories in height. and each
floor is about 200 feet square. This unusual width
tnsures plenty of Esn- and ventilation. and also
makes it possible have the machinery arranged
upon single floors that better oversight may
kept the work
From end 10 end OF most of the floors run long
lines OF sewing machines all shining with clean
iness and all handled by bright faced girls. as
clean in their attire the machines which they
operate. Nor is it left them 10 their attire
An inspector goes through the long aisles CT ma
chimes and looks carefully at the clothing OF
the 1900 girls who operate them does a
squad under his command The girls may dress
as their fancy and their purses dictate but what
must the busy hands which see TO seam and col
Nor does the inspection end here The girls
must be healthy and not come from any house in
which an infectious disease exists
lire neTsaSi6 n me his on % IS t II Ihe Inascu
chlneTy' but that mode Of cutting proved unsat!s-
requires care skill and endurance, for cutting out
Is -1 not so easy as 1t sounds and The hands must
handles OF the scissors.
From the cutters some parts Of the waists so
INC N ,j Le aGS OF the Pas6ers ana the other parts
Tlg "a ga THp i T1-4rf |
credible swiftness fly through the fabric One set
81 sss se"s Ihg pam seams. MS anotner set makes
fashion the cuffs, neckbands and the various por-
tons necessary 10 the completion Of the garment
Then there are machines for hemstitching and Tor
applying the bits OF lace and embroidery TO waists
sdes these vario1s machines there are others
which DO not come under the head of sewing ma
chimes that glitter with sharp needles Industrious
y putting on buttons and working buttonholes. All
own skilled operators, and all are run by other
than human motive power
Each girl IS however. mistress OF her own in
strument and with light touch can control its
When the shirt waists are made there are girls
whose duty II is TO launder the ueCkbands. the col
other girls take the waists lightly press them and
orn @ m them over 70 9eTy o' 9seeF q sTs rs %no st
manufacture the waist looks as though II had
is it; hut his is not 10 Be the last Of its handing
toRs Of swiss and lawn and lace and ebToidSTy
and linen. and puts them into boxes ready FOR the
There is however. stin another process 10 he
gone through with before the waists pressed
and boxed Each Is carefully examined by experts
that II Is perfect in every part otherwise II
cannot go out as the product Of this house
Besides skilled operators. examiners. cutters
basters. inishers pressers, aundresses and boxers
there are employed OF artistic taste and
ability to design models and plan and charm
ing ways IN which 70 apply trimming upon shirt
waists These omen must keep the key OF the
prevailing styles. and at the same time produce
variations novel and exclusive effects that VIII
make the waists desirable. because few women care
exactly the same kind OF garment worn by
others
After the waists have been approved by the lynx
eyed examiners. they placed IN long rows in the
showroom. where they purchased by men from
the shops-blg and lttle-and sold IN every
part os the United States, in Canada and in our
colonies