Fascinating. I particularly appreciate your putting the prices in context. I do wonder how dresses that cheap were sustainable given they were paying their workers a living wage. Where were the corners cut?
I haven’t seen enough of them to know, really, and that might be a clue? For how many of them were made, it doesn’t seem like many house dresses from the 40s/50s survived. They were made to be used and washed, not particularly precious. I’d love to know how their methods contributed to the efficiency too, like they were just able to produce at a higher volume than other makers and it made it cost-effective? I don’t know 🤔
Fascinating. I particularly appreciate your putting the prices in context. I do wonder how dresses that cheap were sustainable given they were paying their workers a living wage. Where were the corners cut?
That’s a great question, I’m not sure. I think the fabric had to have been incredibly cheap, that’s the only variable I haven’t dug into.
Did you notice a difference in the quality of the fabric in the pieces you've seen?
I haven’t seen enough of them to know, really, and that might be a clue? For how many of them were made, it doesn’t seem like many house dresses from the 40s/50s survived. They were made to be used and washed, not particularly precious. I’d love to know how their methods contributed to the efficiency too, like they were just able to produce at a higher volume than other makers and it made it cost-effective? I don’t know 🤔