Maria Dionisiou Fashion History Part III

Are you guys aware that most Textile Manufacturing Mills in America were forced to shut down because they could not compete with imports from  ASIA?  This might sound familiar because the fashion industry has not been the only sector in the US affected by this trade conduct.

Does the government care about the people who worked their whole lives in textile manufacturing and, generations upon generations, were taught and trained on how textile machinery operated and fibers were spun into yarns and converted into fabrics?

Does the government even acknowledge the kind of impact this had on jobs in America not only for those people who worked at manufacturing the fabrics, but also on the entire Fashion System?

Are you guys aware that the profession, Textile Designer, is almost extinct as an employment opportunity in America?

I have many textile designer friends in the trade who were left jobless and had to scramble to alter their lives in order to survive. As a matter of fact, I also know of a few that haven’t yet recovered at all. They are still jobless!

What about garment manufacturing? Do you guys know that most garment manufacturing facilities in America were also forced to shut down because they could not compete with the Asian imports as well. I was raised in a garment manufacturing facility. My family immigrated to the United States and got jobs as sewers. Eventually, they opened their own facility. This is where I learned most of my skills that made me into what I am today. My family was one of the many that were forced to shut down their operation. They were obligated to tell over 100 workers, sorry but we won’t be able to put food on your table this year, because we can’t continue to financially operate  and  compete against the Asia imports.

So let me break it down for you.

If we have no Textile Mill Facilities left, then we have no one to research new and innovative fibers and no one to develop and produce fabrics. If we have no Textile Designers left, then we have no one to build color palettes, create textures and inspire us with innovative new print ideas. If we have no Garment Manufacturing Companies left, then even if we source fabrics and textile ideas in other countries, we have no one to make our garments here in the US.  So where does that leave US, the DESIGNERS??????

Stay tuned for Part IV…Love-Maria

I shot this in NY..Ironic...

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Published:
8.6.10 / 3am
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Thinking Out Loud
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