WOOLLEN TRADE OUTLOOK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17079, 7 July 1926, Page 4

WOOLLEN TRADE OUTLOOK.

EFFECT 'OF NEW FAjSHION'S. DEMAND FOR LIGHT CLOTHES. A gloomy picture of the future of the woollen trade is painted: by Air. John Beveridge, of Kinross, Scotland, in a letter to a, resident- of Blenheim. Fashions have so changed,” he says “ that wool is a. drug on the market. The girls’ summer outfits weight. 230 zin ail and contain no wool at all. The modern woman’s outfit for spring, summer and autumn contains no wool. Men nre wearing lighter weight clothes and .shirts, etc., are made of mixture with artificial ,silk. “American mills used 460,0G0,0C01b of wool in 1925, a reduction of 110,000 OCOlb from 1922. That country is very prosperous with her population increasing, but. has no use for wool. Tit fact America has sent hack wool to Bradford for sale at the best prices. In 1928 the quantity of artificial silk produced in the world will equal the total amount of wool consumed in America. Artificial silk has made vigorous progress and improved greatly in quality within the lust six months. Artificial wool is artificial silk without the final finishing processes and i.s a very useful article. It scents to me that the wool growers are up against, the chemists. The exhibition just closed in London contains nothing hut, artificial silk goods of every kind. "Otor factory, valued at £IOO.OOO, is closed owing to artificial silk. Wo are selling the cloth we have in stock. To make that cloth to-dav would cost 10s pr.r yard. Our wholesale oiler is 2s ai yard and we have difficulty in selling

it retail at 4s a yard. The floorcloth and linoleum manufacturers have been very busy for the last few years as people are buying easily cleaned floor coverings in place of carpets made of woo!.”