Global Changes to the Garment Industry

Other than The Sopranos or Curb Your Enthusiasm, there is nothing much that gets my attention on HBO. But last week I stumbled onto a documentary about the garment industry in Manhattan. Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags captured my attention like no documentary had for a long time. I actually watched it the next day as well with members of my family. I come from a long line of dry cleaners, an adjunct to the garment industry.

This documentary, with interviews and much original footage, told of the death of the U.S. garment industry that was once based in Manhattan. We saw the path of primarily Jewish and Italian immigrants into this business in the early 1900’s, and how they, and immigrant groups that followed them, used the garment industry to climb out of poverty and assimilate into American society.

The documentary discussed and interviewed the business owners, the workers, the labor unions, and the transition to offshore sourcing. At one time 50 years ago 95% of all garments were made in the United States. Now, it is 5%.

For those of us involved in global sourcing, it was a window into some of the factories that we don’t see, or if we do, we ignore. It also told the story of the evolving regulations in offshore factories and the increase in identification and remediation of poor working conditions. Some of the issues happening now are mirroring the garment industry of the early 20th century. We need to learn from our mistakes. Watch the documentary.