Tailors
Tailors made or repaired clothes. Clothing operatives worked in factories produced wholesale clothing.
In the 18th Century tailors were skilled workers that made clothes by hand. During this time the tailoring industry was largest in London where tailors made high quality, made to measure items. There were also journeymen tailors who travelled around the country and stayed at the houses of richer people to make clothes for the whole household.
By the late 19th Century lower quality, mass produced clothing began to be made in factories. The workforce in the factories was varied with skilled, semi and unskilled workers. They were called clothing operatives rather than tailors. From the 1850s Leeds became a major centre of the wholesale clothing industry. In the 1860s the sewing machine was introduced to factories increasing production.
There were also sweatshops where unskilled workers, mainly women, did jobs such as sewing on buttons, making button holes and making pockets and pocket linings. The conditions in these workshops were often dirty, hot and insanitary.
There were several tailors' union, which at first only skilled tailors were allowed to join. In the late 19th Century the unions were opened up to the clothing operatives in the factories. To find out more about tailors' union, click here
Sources for family history in our collection
Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Tailors [later the Amalgamated Society of Tailors and Tailoresses]
The following information can be found in annual reports
| Information | Dates | |
| Obituaries (members and wives) | Name and cause of death | 1870-1931 |
| Sick pay and benefits | Name and monies received | 1870-1931 |
| Superannuation | Name and monies received | 1882-1917 |
| Branch secretaries | Name and address | 1870-1917 |
Amalgamated Society of Clothiers' Operatives
The following information can be found in annual reports
| Information | Dates | |
| Obituaries | Name, age and cause of death | 1899-1909 |
| Strike and out of work pay | Name and monies received | 1898-1909 |
| Branch secretaries | Name and address | 1894-1909 |