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Home  December 1, 2009
December 1, 2009
 | December 1, 2009 |
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Just For Fun
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Written by Debra Hindlemann Webster
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Monday, 30 November 2009 08:31 |
 Boilers, presses, and irons in the apparel business are ubiquitous; yet, few people ever think about them or realize how necessary they are. To press a new garment is an entirely different skill than pressing one that has already had its creases set, its lapels put back, its seams busted, its kick pleat folded in, or its shoulder pads and lining properly aligned with the outside shell.
The Chinese were purportedly the first to use a hot iron to smooth cloth. Between their putting metal in pans filled with hot coals, and the Europeans using stones, glass, and wood for smoothing, women around the civilized world utilized various methods of "ironing." There were "slickers," "sleekstones," and other shapes such as inverted mushrooms, that would be used to smooth a fabric when the idea of using burning heavy metal (usually iron), wasn't available or desirable.
There were presses for laying out cloth, and stretchers where damp fabrics were held between rollers or "calendars." But ultimately, during the 19th century, with such inventions as the gas iron (white gasoline was put inside a metal canister with a smooth, flat base, and lit to heat up the metal), and the electric flatiron that was patented in 1882 by Henry W. Seely, the regular practice of smoothing garments professionally, was born.
There are all kinds of irons. As fashions changed and developed over hundreds and hundreds of years, the irons, themselves, changed to accommodate the types of fabrics and the need to deal with a particular article of clothing, or special styles.
The sadiron, or flatiron with 2 pointed ends and a removable handle, is one of the most familiar. Fluting irons were designed to crimp and press ruffles. They were also used for collars and cuffs. Slug irons carried a "slug" of metal inside them, and revolved around the handle so that the part of the iron that touched the fabric was always hot. These were used for polishing, glossing, or embossing designs onto a fabric. From these came the tailor's iron, with a heavy top that was forced down upon a bottom--what we call a "buck press," today.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 December 2009 11:29 |
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Companies
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Written by Jackie Rosselli
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Monday, 30 November 2009 09:01 |
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 The decision last month by lifestyle footwear supplier Skechers to enter the uniform market with a line of branded medical apparel is yet the latest announcement by a string of companies who view the uniform industry as ripe for profit. Scoffing at the notion of retrenchment, these newcomers are tapping niche markets, breaking boundaries, racking up sales and making a name for themselves during one of the toughest economies in recent memory. They, and others like them, are the upside of a down economy, and they are making big plans to better position themselves once economic recovery takes hold.
Who are they? Too numerous to name in one article, we've profiled a couple below:
Reviving a Dying Trade: Cape Clogs"This is the best time to start a company," Cape Clogs founder Pamela Irving emphatically says. "If you can run a business in tough times, you can excel in good ones."
Started in 2006, Cape Clogs is a leading privately held designer, distributor and marketer of fashion forward Swedish clogs that exudes personality and youthful energy with vivid signature prints. Based on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the company offers a wide range of clogs for men, women and children in the work and lifestyles categories. It has established sales distribution in traditional footwear channels, including independent boutiques, sporting good stores and as of February, 2009, the medical apparel industry.
Optimism notwithstanding, expanding a business in the middle of a meltdown presents a unique set of challenges. "Being in a niche market helps," notes Irving when pressed about the timing.
Selling to a market where jobs are still plentiful is also a plus, as is being in a segment where distinctiveness trumps conformity. Eschewing the traditions of the blue goods industry and its penchant for sameness, the medical apparel market puts the emphasis on the tastes of the wearer, a trait perfectly suited to the vibrant designs found in the Cape Clogs' product line. "Our clogs are very colorful, and that makes people happy," says Irving. "If you want to express yourself while at work, we have a pattern for any personality out there." |
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Last Updated on Monday, 30 November 2009 13:19 |
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