When did the cloth revolution start?

16 Apr.,2024

 

The Industrial Revolution (1760-1850) began in England and spread throughout Europe and the Americas over the course of the next several decades. The Industrial Revolution did not reach America until the 1820s and began with the textile industries in the northeast. Expanding technology and the invention of new machines forever changed the way manufacturing and industry took place. The textile industry was greatly impacted by a number of new inventions such as the flying shuttle, the spinning frame and the cotton gin. But it was the invention of the Spinning Jenny by James Hargreaves that is credited with moving the textile industry from homes to factories. The move from a domestic cottage based industry to factories allowed the expansion of the Industrial Revolution from England throughout much of the world.

James Hargreaves was a weaver in Blackburn, Lancaster. Although this area was known as a major textile center, prior to the Industrial Revolution the production of cloth from raw goods took place within cottage industries. All work was done by individuals within the home and entire families were involved. Men were often the weavers while children assisted in cleaning raw materials and women spun the materials into threads or yarns. The process was time consuming and merchants wanting to meet the demand for textile goods were often frustrated by the huge gap between supply and demand. The expense involved in transporting raw materials to numerous locations, waiting for finished textiles to be made by hand and then the finished goods to be picked up and transported back to the merchant was also an incentive to search for alternatives. While the invention of the flying shuttle and later the power loom made it possible to weave materials faster, spinning of raw materials into threads and yarns was still done by hand one thread at a time. Spinners were unable to keep up with the increased demand for threads.

James Hargreaves may have designed the spinning jenny as an improvement over an earlier machine invented by Thomas High in 1763 or 1764. While never patented, High's machine used six spinning wheels that were bolted together and powered by a single large wheel. James Hargreaves' spinning jenny was said to have been designed after he saw his wife's spinning wheel knocked over and saw the spindle continue to spin. The spinning jenny used eight different spindles that were powered by a single wheel. This allowed one spinster to produce eight threads in the same amount of time it previously took to produce one.

Later versions of the spinning jenny added even more lines which made the machine too large for home use. This led the way to factories where these larger machines could be run by fewer workers. With machines and workers concentrated in one place, the transportation costs of raw materials and finished goods were greatly reduced. Factory owners also had greater control over workers and began a division of labor that had individuals responsible for different stages of the manufacturing process. This led to increased production and often a demand for workers to keep up with quotas set by the factory owners. The invention of the spinning jenny and other inventions that improved the efficiency and production of textiles was the beginning of the Industrial Revolution that shifted England, Europe, and the United States from an agrarian society to an Industrial economy.

As with all change, there were advantages and disadvantages to the use of the spinning jenny and other inventions at the time. The spinning jenny allowed more threads and yarns to be produced by fewer spinners. The early spinning jenny also produced a weaker thread than could be produced by hand so there was a decrease in quality until improvements were made to the machines and a dependable power source became available. With the use of water to power later versions of spinning and weaving machinery, quality and strength of the cloth produced was greatly improved. While many factors in England including the availability of workers along with the increased demand for textiles produced ideal conditions for the economic growth of the textile industry, without the invention of the spinning jenny, progress would have continued at a much slower pace.

A traditional story maintains that the Spinning Jenny was named after one of Hargreaves' daughters or his wife. Yet he had no daughter named Jenny and his wife was named Elizabeth. The word jenny is an old world word used as a reference to an engine. There is some indication that James Hargreaves worked with Thomas High to improve on an earlier invention of a mechanical spinning wheel and improved the design which was then named a spinning Jenny after Thomas High's daughter. Regardless of how the invention came to be named, it changed forever the way textile manufacturing was accomplished and led the way to the Industrial Revolution.

Check out the following resources for more information concerning the Spinning Jenny and the impact it had on the Industrial Revolution.

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The textile sector was one of the major beneficiaries of the Industrial Revolution. The development of cloth and apparel was the foundation of the textile industry. In this article, let’s find out about achievements in the history of textile industry with Dugarco – A famous clothing manufacturer from Vietnam to have deep knowledge about our clothes and their historical developments.

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1. From prehistoric times to the 19th century

The history of the textile industry has gone through many stages, the most prominent being the period from prehistoric times to the 19th century.

1.1. Textiles in the Middle Ages

The history of the textile industry in the Middle Ages always receives much attention from people. Certain Turkish tribes were proficient in the production of carpets, felted linens, towels, and rugs by the early Middle Ages. Following the Arab conquest of Sicily in 827 CE, exquisite fabrics were manufactured in Palermo’s palace workshops. Around 1130, experienced weavers from Greece and Turkey arrived in Palermo and began weaving magnificent silk interlaced with gold materials. Weavers fled to Italy after the French conquest of Sicily in 1266, with many settling in Lucca. The Florentines seized Lucca in 1315, transporting the Sicilian weavers to Florence.

1.2.Textile industries of Germany and France

In history of textile industry in Germany and France, in 1480, France began producing woven silks, and in 1520, Francis I imported Italian and Flemish weavers to Fontainebleau to produce tapestry. In the 16th century, Flemish weavers were transported to France to work in factories established by Jean Gobelin. By the reign of Louis XIII (1610–43), French patterned fabrics had developed a distinct style focused on symmetrical decorative shapes that appeared lacelike. The Gobelin factory in Paris was purchased by the French government in 1662, under Louis XIV. Under Louis XVI (1774–93), French textiles advanced in style and technique, and design was perfected, with Classical elements interspersed with previous floral designs. 

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1.3. Textile manufacture in England

In the 13th and 14th centuries, textiles in England were mostly made of linen and wool. Moreover, Flemish fullers (finishers) and dyers influenced the industry. In 1455, damask and flowered silks were being woven in London and Norwich, and in 1564, Queen Elizabeth I issued a license to Dutch and Flemish residents in Norwich for damask and flowered silk manufacture. Weavers who fled to England were recognized in the history of textile industry for their high-quality silk fabrics and their subtle use of intricate weaves and textures.

1.4. History of textile industry in India

India also has a diverse history of textile industry. India’s modern textile industry began in the early nineteenth century, with the establishment of the country’s first textile mill in Fort Gloster, near Calcutta, in 1818. The cotton textile industry, on the other hand, began in Bombay in the 1850s. A Parsi cotton merchant interested in both abroad and domestic trade founded Bombay’s first cotton textile mill in 1854. In 1861, the first cotton mill in Ahmedabad, which later became a rival to Bombay, was founded. 

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2. Textiles in the New World

In the history of textile industry in world, prehistoric weaving was advanced in both North and South America; both the Peruvians and the Mexicans had excellent woven garments. Peruvian fabrics were similar to those of ancient Egypt. Inca cotton and wool garments were brightly colored, with geometric and conventionalized human shapes as motifs. In 1638, English settlers founded a fabric factory in Massachusetts. By 1654, fulling mills had established themselves in Massachusetts, relieving the population of its need on England for fine linen and worsted. 

3. The modern textile industry

Both developed and developing countries today have contemporary facilities capable of producing high-quality fabrics. There have been rapid breakthroughs in the discovery of new fibers, techniques to improve textile qualities, and testing methods that allow for higher quality control, in addition to mechanical improvements in yarn and fabric fabrication. The modern textile business is still strongly linked to the apparel sector. Eco friendly clothing manufacturers are also born here.

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4. History of textile mills

Factory manufacturing of clothing and shoes on a wide scale did not begin until after the invention of the power-driven sewing machine. Nearly all clothing was local and hand-sewn before sewing machines, and tailors and seamstresses could manufacture unique articles of clothing for customers in most communities.

Around 1831, George Opdyke (later Mayor of New York) started making ready-made garments on a modest scale, which he stocked and marketed mostly through a store in New Orleans. Opdyke was one of the first merchants in the United States to do so. Factory manufacture of clothing on a big scale did not begin until after the invention of the power-driven sewing machine. The apparel business has developed since then.

5. Why do many brands love products from Asian clothing manufacturers nowadays?

The majority of clothing from major companies is produced in Asia, where labor costs are lower and more work is completed. China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines are the countries that produce the majority of the clothing. Because most clothes are created by low-wage employees in these Asian countries, the cost of clothing is also lower. People frequently do not consider where their garments are created, opting instead to buy them because they meet their needs and lack understanding or experience in the field. People always look at the price when determining what to buy, and they may compare costs to see where they can save money. 

6. Prestigious FOB clothing manufacturer in Asia

Among hundreds of clothing brands in Vietnam, Dugarco is one of the most famous brands with high quality and affordable prices for customers in this country and also other markets. Thanks to the plentiful labor force and reasonable payments, it launches apparel products with great quality materials and competitive prices which make customers extremely satisfied. Besides, Dugarco presently has 11 firms in Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Hoa Binh, with over 8,000 employees, technicians, and professional management officials operating in 25 facilities with over 160 sophisticated production lines. Dugarco is a massive company in Vietnam’s textile and garment industry. 

It is not natural that Dugarco has become one of the biggest clothing brands with the largest number of clothes produced and sold in Vietnam. Per year, Dugarco has manufactured about 11,000,000  units of Shirt, 3,000,000 units of Jacket, Blazer, 150,000 units of Suit, 2,000,000 units of pants, 1,500,000 units of knits, and 2,000,000 units of domestic. Furthermore, customers can completely be assured about the quality of its products because this company receives many Certificates such as Social Compliance Certificates, Customer & 3rd Party Certificates, and ISO Certificates.

Unlike other clothing products on the market now, clothes from Dugarco are made from sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton and recycled polyester which is not only eco-friendly but also brings to users a soft and comfortable feeling at affordable prices. Moreover, Dugarco always meets the diverse demand of customers about design, size, and style to launch clothes collections and adapt to the latest fashion trends. 

Through this article, we hope that you will get much useful knowledge about the history of textile industry, and about the formation and development of textiles in the world. Furthermore, you also know deeply about Dugarco, one of the biggest clothing companies in Vietnam with clothing products made of high-quality and eco-friendly materials. Let’s contact Dugarco for any free help.

Contact information:

  • Address: No.59, Duc Giang Street, Duc Giang Ward, Long Bien Districts, Hanoi City, Vietnam
  • Tel: 024 3655 7930
  • Email: dugarco@mayducgiang.com.vn
  • Website: https://dugarco.com/en/

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Dugarco under the talented leadership and guidance of Mr. Hoang Ve Dung has gradually become a large Vietnam clothing manufacturer, supplying clothes for many famous brands from many different countries such as the UK, USA, and Australia.

When did the cloth revolution start?

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