New-York tribune., 1922-11-05
Silk Industry Once More
Starts on Upward Trend
Basis for Improvement Sounder Than in Recent
Flurries; New Styles Are Reflected i'm
Better Demand

weeks reports have come from at least
two of the leading novelty silk pro-
ducers that certain of their fabrics
have been booked we'll into next year.
situation that is in sharp contrast
with that existing during most of the
summer.
The silk trade, it Ia remembered,
was the first trade to run into de-
preston. The price Of raw silk broke
sharply in the latter part Of January,
1920, snd the downward course of
prices continued almost unchecked d
until September Of that year. The de-
cline carried prices from SIS a pound
in January to SIS pound in Septem-
Der. Business followed the price
trend and the low point was reached
in the latter part Of 1920. The open
ing OF 1921, however, saw an incipient
boom in the silk trade and for a
while 1t was thought that silks were
leading the way back to prosperity
The high point of activity was reached
in the early spring, however, and ii
soon became apparent that the ac-
tiyity in manufacturing was not being
followed by. consumer buying and an
other reaction set in which lasted
throughout the year and on into the
current year until early in the fall.
Effect Of Neso Styles
With the fall came change in style
in women's clothes that has exerted a
tremendous influence upon the silk
trade. The new season saw the death
kneli Of the fiapper styles, which leaned
more toward rough woolens and cotton
goods than they did toward silks. The
newer fashions, with longer skirts and
the draped effects, called for silks. and
q considerably increased yardage of
In summer dresses ecant three or
four yards Of material was sufficient
for garment. Some of the current
styles take as much as fourteen yards
OF material. Small wonder, then, that
the silk trade felt an increase in de-
mand.
With considerably decreased con-
sumption OF silk during most of 1921
ana well into 1922, the industry had
Iailed to meet the situation by curtail.
ing production. Prominent leaders in
the trade began advocating curtailment
as early as last February, but it was
not until March that curtailment was
prscticed In earnest by the large manu-
facturers and production was brought
down to about 40 per cent OF capacity,
and held there throughout most of the
summer. But even then production
appeared to be above normal, with the
result that buyers, instead Of placing
orders for future delivery, came into
the market at will and picked up their
supplies from among the stocks already
produced.
The recent increase in demand, how
ever, has changed all this, and the
market no longer is carrying these
heavy stocks. AS result manufac-
turers are booking larger orders to be
made and are much frmer in their price
views on existing stock goods.
One branch of the silk trade that
did not suffer as much as others was
the knitting branch. Silk hosiery,
underwear, sweaters. gloves and minor
products of the knitting machine were
in better demand all through the de-
preston than were silk woven goods,
distinguished from other classifications
by the trade term, broad silks The
continued popularity Of knitted goods
brought about double reaction upon
the manufacturers of broad silks In
the first place knitted fabrics replaced
the broad silks to some extent, and in
the second place the continued buying
Of raw silk by the knitters ran UP the
price Of the raw material TO q point
where the weavtrs were unable to buy
It and then dispose of their finished
fabrics at profit.
Ribbons Actipe
Another branch of the trade that is
new coming forward as big factor is
the ribbon branch. From all reports,
ribbons, which have occupied a place
Of minor Importance for the last two