The Culture of Sewing: Gender, Consumption and Home Dressmaking

by Barbara Burman (Editor), Joanne B. Eicher (Series Editor)

Throughout its long history, home dressmaking has been a formative experience in the lives of millions of women. In an age of relative affluence and mass production, it is easy to forget that just over a generation ago, young girls from middle- and working-class backgrounds were routinely taught to sew as a practical necessity. However, not only have the skills involved in home dressmaking been overlooked and marginalized due to their association with women and the home, but the impact home dressmaking had on women's lives and broader socioeconomic structures also has been largely ignored. This book is the first serious account of the significance of home dressmaking as a form of European and American material culture. Exploring themes from the last two hundred years to the present, including gender, technology, consumption and visual representation, contributors show how home dressmakers negotiated and experienced developments to meet a wide variety of needs and aspirations. Not merely passive consumers, home dressmakers have been active producers within family economies. They have been individuals with complex agendas expressed through their roles as wives, mothers and workers in their own right and shaped by ideologies of femininity and class.This book represents a vital contribution to women's studies, the history of fashion and dress, design history, material culture, sociology and anthropology.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sewing, History, Fashion History, Fashion

368 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1999

Reviews

[♡ venus ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating collection of articles related to the history of sewing.

Although it may have taken me a while to read, I'm really glad that I decided to pick this one up. I learned so much about the evolution of the sewing machine, the role of sewing and dressmaking in women's lives, and the sewing industry as a whole. Each of the articles covered unique topics that I'd never even thought about before, but were all interesting and enlightening. My favourite articles were the ones about the sewing machine as an ornament, sewing patterns and women's magazines, and the one about sewing in the American West.

All of the articles in this book were really interesting, even as someone who has no practical experience with sewing. Highly recommend for anyone who is interested in sewing and fashion history, particulary in regards to non-upper class women.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and important anthology of essays on sewing. Several discuss the basic reasons for sewing depending on class status and how sewing is passed on. Others explain the cultural aspects of sewing and the social networks that are often formed. The last part of the work has essays on the history of the sewing machine and the development of home economics as an academic field. It is truly an enjoyable read.

[Mark Bieraugel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent set of essays on home sewing during 1840s to the 1940s, focused on the UK and the US. Of particular interest to academics in history, material culture, women's studies. One chapter devoted to sewing machine sales in the UK. I particularly liked the chapter on sewing machine design and the use of black Japan enamel and gold detailing.

[Erika Mulvenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays, some of which I found very interesting, some of which I couldn't get past the first paragraph. This book is meant to shed some light on the patterns of home sewing from before the turn of the last century throgh post WWII.

[Mills College Library]

646.4 C9688 1999