The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-05
GETTING NEARER
lContinued from Page One)

yfe council Of national defense at
Washington has about the same idea
~ nroach as a means of elm mating
waste AS manufacturer pointed
OFT II is the constant "see-sawing
that marks the beginning of the sea-
son that cuts down profits, loads the
Industry with merchandise that will
Tot sell or has to be sacrificed, and
causes go much Inaettler1ent in both
the wholesale and retail branches OF
the trade. The commercial economy
board makes this statement prelimi-
nary TO its recommendations:
The board has found through con-
kerences with representatives of the
cloth and clothing trades and by other
Investigations that there abe pro-
Auccd each season many nore styles
rf ctct.i and garments than Sc We any
Essential purpose for manufacturer.
merchant or consumer. This excess
jD1 styles wastes labor and wool, not
SonIy in the manufacture but also in
kho merchandising OF cloth and cloth
ang, and It wastes them at a time when
hhey are urgently needed by the army
md for other essential uses There is,
indeed. such urgent need for men and
iaterials in essential work that the
eouutry cannot endure the waste that
results from the excess Of styles in
|1c1othing.'
M & AZ the present time, owing to many
abnormal conditions. the waste caused
~ the production OF rejected STYLES
I'M the wooden trade has been cut
(aAown to a minimum. Time was when
khN industry was flooded with clothes
~ every description, the large ma
iaorfty OF which were never not put to
any practical use. Sample lines ranged
kHn the thousands, and the larger the Of
Hofing the more confident the seller
E&ooat that some two or three of his
Aesigns would make the big hit" OF
The season. The loss on the patterns
(which were not favorahly received
kteaa made up through the larger proft
EnarrAtn on the big numbers" But
Though the manufacturer was com
IDensated in this way for his expense
I'm getting out a large number OF
fmples, the rejected cloths represent
| ~ big waste.
al The industry is now running on
Ehrhat can be almost described as a
EankAple basis. half dozen cloths are
[1enktnE the greater part of the de-
E3nnand and there Is no sign OF any
Eky1e uncertainty in the dress goods
kt11v1sion In the garment manufacture
~ line, however. a different story
E4nuot he told. Fashions are still In a
EtopaY -turvy state, and IL Ia fairly GER
e1aan, no matter which way the styles
turn. one branch or other
@Of the trade will be up against a
Id
The industry, according to one Of
kAkS representatives. suffers from a d.
#134ad style leadership. few OF the
Ending houses have "A reputation for
Gkting out fashions Of their own that
s6are often than not register a sue
@122GG. Houses of lesser magnitude fol.
EH&N them. The upset may come in the
from Paris that are
Nde later in the season. Some new
- may appear in these models that
myers will eagerly grasp. and the
l. x5eo created in this country that
I'D the middle OF the stage will go
0 In the dust OF job-lot offerings
IN moving their manufacturing
nanon closer to that OF the retail sea.
y, certain of the manufacturers see
Suay out of this style uncertainty
the losses and waste caused by 1t
Stthermore. by eliminating a multi
oGfty OF styles. the buyers task will
nade a much simpler one and the
Nkle9s piunging on one style one
and something else on the next
automatically cease.
H. A4 industry is fully capable, so
33Hf0rmed manufacturer stated to
the requirements of the retailers
Aeshorter space OF time that would
o11owed by showing the season
Complaints have been made