SLUMP IN EMBROIDERY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17238, 19 April 1930, Page 12

SLUMP IN EMBROIDERY

FASHION'S UNWIND TRICK PARIS, Fob. 4. Dam*' Fashion is playing an un'kina Irick on a once prosperous flection of the French dressmaking trade—tho embroidering industry. Usually it is madame who has to bemoan changes of mode that make half her WardrObe useless overnight. Now thousands of skilled embroiderers are looking for employment in other trades, for embroidery, passementerie, and lace tr minings JiaVe become unpopular.

More than 100 firms have closed down since the beginning of lf)2i), and many others are following suit. An industry that once kept 100,000 exports busy is threatened with annihilation.

Glittering handbags in the Rue do Rivoli that seem expensive even to wealthy tourists are being made today at the rate Of 60 or 70 eentinres an hour, whereas payment for work of this kind was If 75 centimes, or even 2f, an hour a few years ago. And while madame, obedient to the caprices of fashion, continues to prefer simple clothes and gaily printed crepes and .velvet, this state of affairs is likely 'to continue.

The embroiderers, however, are well enough acquainted with their goddess to know that she may chango h<:r mind at any moment. Within a year or two embroidery may be in favor again, and France will enjoy onco more the. benefits of an industry that is worth several million francs a year.