Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-11-26
Hy David y. Moacssobn.


Executive Director OF the Associated
Dress Industries Of America
f"rfadcd ny an ever Strengthening
feeling ~ certainty and optimism.
'h" dress industry during tho past
year has passed through VIVA: may
be called the transition period"
ol proL auI no ttIp.lo ST Mou pun
permanent stability.
Tho transition" has been effect
cd gradually and n no small cost
70 tn" average dress manufacturing
or Wholesale hrui, but ~ has Hnaily
brought about a condition in the In
dus'sy tina. move promises 10 repay
have encountered or losses they have
Hetn forced to- suffer, during the
| year
While conditions have AZ no home
! approached the chaotic stage in the
| dress Industry. they nevertheless
| have been serious enough AT in
| i'rvals to cause dress Manufacturers
and wholesalers 20 wonder what
| r"Nt7" a year ayo. when tho fail
| 1921 season vas drawing to Il close.
! the dress trade %as ohinny con
| earned with collections and "jobs"
| While on tho one hand tho dress
| man was stretching his Imagination
| his homes and his efforts In every
| direction 10 r:d his racks OF syrpIus
|
| disc. on tho other hand he was wor-
! rIed over the slow lcss with which
| payments were coming IN on IN.
| merchandise already delivered Con
| Germs that were fortunate enough TO
have no Jobs" on their own racks
wore forced 20 cease operations tenn
porarily until their competitors had
cleared their stocks at ridiculousiy
low prices
Such conditions. however. now arc
only unpleasant memories :, the
| dress trade. They are referred tn
merely as means o. pointing out
more strongly tho true conditions
existing at the close Of the fall and
winter selling period az 1872
III ;hc first place. the season just
drawing 10 close has been entire
~ satisfactory 10 the Wholesalers
and manufacturers While IL has not
brought tho huge profits that char
sctcr!zed the seasons OF wartime
prosperity, II has nevertheless left a
fair balance on tho net side OF the
ltdgcrs and has been the source of
d!N!dual concerns and to the dress
trade al large.
Bcs; % all. the fall season has
shown tho dress man that things are
not so bad after all, and that I'M
rrov"ment is definitely under way
Collections at the close Of the fall
and winter season are giving little
ironhle. with every indication that
retailers are In turn rapidly disHos
llng 90 the merchandise which tn y
have purchased jobs" Il has beer
proven, are thing Of the past In
: tn" dress trade for manufacturer
and stock houses alike have Learned
their lesson-to cut up only that
quantity ~ dresses for which the,
, I " ,n hot do I'd
sale. They have followed this rul,
just closely enough 10 prevent this
! accumulation OF any surplus stocks
In tho wholesale market at any tims
during the past season and ut the
same time have cut cloth in sufficient
quantity TO enable them TO supply or
short notice tho full demands Of the
retail stores and tho consumers
Ono Of tho most encouraging feat.
ures ~ tho present dress market /,
81" .ac; shat spring selling is actual.
" under way before the demand has
sl1ckcnad To any great extent FOL
fall and winter merchandise. Their,
LAS been no seriously dun period he.
tween tho two seasons. From al
arpcarancer tho demand for dresses
has become more of tho all-ycar.
round type that makes possible
steady employment for the workers
~ the industry and a more certain
method Of hsurine costs and profits
for every one engaged In IT,
With stability thus established only
one deduction can be possible in re-
gard to the future outlook for ths
dress business. A sturdy. steady and
profitable spring season has been
opened and II rests with the lndi.
vidual as TO how great volume OF
business he can turn his way.
In word all Indications point
10 splendid business for 1923. Tn.
continuation OF the demand 70;
dresses, far more than for any ~
the other women's ready-to-weai
commodities Is definite and certain
The reasonahleness OF the price Of
the average dress. together with It's
seasonal attraCtiveness. are bound Il
react To the benefit OF volume bust
ness. The dress manufacturer as
well as the retailer who sells dresses
his right IN look forward TO not
only a healthy spring seasons bust
ness. hut to an increasing gratifying
business for years 10 follow.