The Industrial Revolution began in the late 18th century. However, many of its influences are still present today. The Industrial Revolution began in 1760 and lasted until the mid-1800s. A major part of it was the switch to new manufacturing methods. Textiles were a major industry that was affected by the change and growth. Although the industrial age has clearly inspired a part of modern day textiles, technological advances and changing social views have led some companies to redefine their processes. These concepts, such as mass-production and the first department shops, have had a positive impact on the textile industry. They also brought about some flaws, such as poor conditions of labour. Cotton On Group will highlight the influence of the Industrial Revolution on fast-fashion. Additionally, the impact the industrial revolution has had on the fast fashion industry will be explored. Reformation is a slow fashion company that will be used to show how today’s society has moved past the manufacturing methods of the industrial revolution.
The Industrial Revolution was the catalyst for the textiles industry. This revolution also introduced concepts which are still prevalent in today’s society. The industrial revolution was a time of great progress, but it also had many flaws. It was mass production that led to the industrial revolution. Mass production involves producing goods at large scales using automated mechanical processes. It increased efficiency and reduced costs. Machines that made mass production possible allowed the textile sector to grow. Women no longer needed to manually sew with needles of bone or iron. Elias Howe invented the sewing machines in 1846. They sparked a technological, social and industrial revolution. It mimicked hands-on sewing with a lockstitch and eye-pointed, modern needle. The sewing machine accelerated industrialisation while giving women a chance to demonstrate their ability to operate complicated machinery. The sewing machine, for example, was a great invention that allowed clothes to be made and sold at lower prices. This is because the time required to produce the textiles was greatly reduced. In the textile industry of today, mass-produced clothing with a low price is often marketed as expensive. A department store was another important invention that influenced the industrial revolution. In contrast to modern day department store’s that are bright and clean, as well as the ability to purchase online, department shops were new and innovative. They were a way for women to try on fabrics before they purchased them. They also allowed them to get out of the home. Harding, Howell & Co. Grand Fashionable Magazine, a London-based department store, opened in Pall Mall, St James, from 1809. This store was divided by departments such as fur, fans, fabric, haberdashery jewellery, clocks, millinery, and perfume. This concept has become very popular in the modern society, and is not limited to large retailers such as Myer or David Jones. Cotton On Group also follows a similar strategy. The industrial revolution was aided by these concepts, but they also had many issues and flaws. As a result, the modern textile sector has moved away from some industrial revolution systems. In textile factories for example, women and children had to work long and hard hours at low wages. In factories with thousands of employees, there are often outbreaks of illnesses and diseases. Pneumonia also occurred when workers were exposed to cold air after leaving the humid environment of the textile factory. It was dangerous for children to be forced to climb on machines to clean them. The textile industry today is responsible for this type of unethical practice that was prevalent during the Industrial Revolution.
The industrial age has had a huge impact on the textile industry today. Many of its concepts are still very relevant to our society. Fast fashion — inexpensive clothing manufactured quickly by major retailers in response with the latest trend — is one of the most important ideas in the textiles industry today. The concept mass production began in the industrial revolution. Mass production is used in fast fashion to emphasize speed and quantity over quality. Cotton On Group’s fast fashion is a great example. As a company, Cotton On Group has seven brands and operates in 18 countries. It also has over 1400 shops. Cotton On Group collaborates with over 400 factories. Most of them are located in China. The Renaissance Group – one of Cotton On Group’s Bangladesh suppliers – boasts 10 Bangladeshi factories and over 20,000 staff members in multiple stages of production. Cotton On Group (2019) The sheer size of production and number of people working in factories are both linked to mass-production. This shows that Cotton On Group is influenced by industrial revolution mass production. Cotton On’s Gina Square Neck, which retails at $14.99 and is made up of 55% Cotton and 45% Viscose is an example of mass manufacturing. This product, with its extremely low price, shows how Cotton On adopted the mass production of the Industrial Revolution. This top, although technologically more advanced today, was created by a sewing-machine. The industrial revolution invented this invention. Cotton On does not follow the same processes as the industrial Revolution. However, in response to the more ethically-minded society, Cotton On has adapted their brand’s process to be in line with those standards. Cotton On’s ‘Rules of Trade” have addressed the ethical issue of wages. Cotton On’s and the factories of the industrial age were able to offer cheap clothing because their workers received low wages. Cotton On Group is also moving past the issue of child and forced labor in the Industrial Revolution. The factory has to be hygienic and safe, unlike unsanitary factories during the Industrial Revolution. These caused workers to get sick. Cotton On isn’t just improving working conditions. They are also sourcing materials. Thanks to the increasingly environmentally-conscious customers, Cotton On is committed to Better Cotton Initiative as well as Kenya Sustainable Cotton Program. Cotton On aims to use 100% sustainable Cotton in 2021. The top below, for example, would require approximately 2000 litres to make. Aside from mass production, the concept of the department shop — a large store with different sections of many products — has also influenced the structure and the industry of textiles today. Cotton On Group’s Mega Cotton On store houses up to three different brands. The features that made department stores what they were during the Industrial Revolution can be used to describe a Cotton On Store, further highlighting the relevance of the Industrial Revolution. Cotton On’s brick and mortar store has been complemented by an online shop to meet the needs of modern society. The industrial revolution influenced the textile industry today, but modern technology also has made companies explore other avenues for sales.
Slow fashion is a way of making clothes that rejects the industrial revolution’s methods. Slow fashion is a movement that focuses on quality and longevity of garments, rather than price. Slow fashion promotes a slower pace of production, fair salaries, lower carbon emissions, and an aim for zero waste. It is ethical because it considers raw materials, human labour, and the environment. Reformation in Los Angeles is a great example of slow-fashion business. The brand is known as a feminine and effortless brand. The brand uses plant-based materials to make its clothing. For instance, the Nina Top in Figure 5 is made of 53% rayon and 47% viscose. This top looks similar to Cotton On’s top but is actually made of a mix of cotton. Reformation’s dedication to ethical sourcing can also be seen in the fabric they choose. Viscose, for instance, is a synthetic fibre that comes from wood. They want to ensure that the forests they use are protected, restored, and conserved. To achieve this, they partner with Canopy – a non profit group – to create positive change in their forest products. Reformation has a different approach to fashion than the industrial revolution, which was more concerned with manufacturing products and less about the environment or ethics. A second comparison is the difference in price between the Reformation and Cotton On tops. This is because, although the tops are similar stylistically, they have a large price differential. It shows that Reformation has rejected the industrial revolution concept of producing products as cheaply as you can. It is up to consumers to decide if they are willing to pay more in order for a lower price or support traditional manufacturing practices to achieve a lower price. The Reformations production process is distinct from Cotton On as 65% of its manufacturing is carried out locally in Los Angeles. Reformation’s manufacturing is done locally which is why they charge more. Minimum wages in America are much higher than those in Bangladesh. In contrast, the top shown below was created by a machine invented in the industrial age. This illustrates how there are still many inventions relevant to slow fashion, despite the vast differences between the manufacturing processes. Similarly, the concept of department stores was created during the industrial age. It is a good example of how textile brands that are embracing slow fashion are changing their sales strategies. Reformation has 17 green-certified retail stores in the US and Canada, as well as 1 in the United Kingdom. The brand also has an online presence that ships to more than 200 countries. Reformation doesn’t have a store that looks like a departmental shop with standardised merchandise. The sparse display of clothing in the windows is a way to promote a new retail technique. However, the fact that there are no racks filled with clothes reinforces the notion of slow fashion. The textiles are operating very differently than they did during the Industrial Revolution due to technological advances.
In the end, industrial revolution played a huge role in history. Even though its effects are still evident, we can question the extent to what it inspired and influenced our textile industry today, considering how much the world has changed since the 1800s. Despite this, fast fashion is still influenced by the industrial age’s manufacturing and sales processes. Fast fashion has had to adapt to today’s society. Fast fashion has nothing to do with industrial revolution. The new approach of today, slow fashion, is very different. Textile industry approaches vary. Some are inspired from the industrial revolution while others invent new fashions.