The sun., 1919-09-12
DEMAND FOR SILKS
OUTSKIRTS SUPPLY
Curtailed Working Week Also
! Accentuates Shortages and
Keeps Prices Up.


Industry in this country is hampered by
tts inability to produce enough material
to meet the demand, and although or
ders for future delivery are freely Of
fered few mills are able to work to full
capacity owing to the shortage OF labor,
according to the yearly. review Of the
American silk industry by the SILK AS
ISOLATION of America.
As a result of this shortage, together
with the curtailed working week. 1t Is
pointed out that fall orders have been
DELAYED in manufacture and are still on
looms which should be turning out
spring goodA The spring openings con-
sequently have been delayed for many
weeks, says the report. commenting that
Il will be interesting to note Just what
effect this will have on next seasons
buying.
..rhe price Of woven fabrics has been
Increasing steadily and this fall Will
again see a general advance" says the
reports. This is due to the rise In the
raw silk market and the ever increasing
demands of labor.
'sThe present price of raw silk is n-
precedented. Toward the latter part OF
March silk began to rise eand has con-
tinued to advance steadily, giving
striking illustration of how sadly the
silk consuming world needs larger sup
plies and, particularly, more competition
against the more or less controlled mar
ket of the present time.
''The scarcity Of labor is tho most Sc
Fious condition which the manufacturer
Is called upon to consider, The male
silk workers. who were attracted during
war times to the munition plants on ac-
count of the higher wages paid, have
attained a certain degree of knowledge
and skill in the metal trades and many
are remaining in those industries.
There Is also a lack of Replacement
help. immigration has been the chief
source of supply for this KiRd Of labor.
but there has been no immf NATION since
the war and many foreigners are return
ing to their native lands. having saved
enough from their Inflated war earnings
to enable them to establish themselves In
comfort In the home countries This
condition also causes a shortage in semi
skilled and manual labor. where wages
received are triple those earned in
former yeara
''Of the materials for fall wear satin
would seem to take the lead. with taf-
feta close second. Jersey crepes and
satin crepes are gaining favor. The
supply of georgettes on the market has
not been sufficient to meet the demand
and all that can be produced are readily
sold.
printed silks are at their height and
Innings are giving indications Of being
good sellers. In this field Japanese
competition Is especially strong. par
ticularly in Innings for mems wear.
"Brocades and metallic weaves are
being shown in attractive designs. The
production of metallic weaves is neces-
sarily limited, due to the lack of ma
chinery with which to make this ma
terial, most OF II having hitherto been
imported.
Ribbons have never been known to
be better. All colors and widths are
being used. The two tone ribbon has
not lost its novelty, while tinsel ribbons
are popular for evening wear. The
Government has recently placed an
order for 100000 yards of ribbon for
military decorations. 1t can truthfully
be called a ribbon season.
"All velvet and plush fabrics are
much in demand. velvet ribbons being
particularly good, as the imporrations
of this article have been practically
nothing. The shortage of labor Is es-
peeially prominent in this branch Of
the industry and seriously handicaps
the output AS the season advances
the scarcity of spun silk will also be-
come an important factor in limiting
production.
European consumption of raw silk
last year was small. During the present
crop year, with peace conditions and
Germany and Austria resurning opera
tons, It should be much larger. Some
estimate 1t as nearly twice that OF last
season"