Comments on: Schmatta: Rags To Riches To Rags

By: Jill Homiak

Jill Homiak — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:37:38 +0000

Hulu & Netflix doesn’t have it. I might try Blockbuster. Also, is anyone familiar with the video/show from PBS about labor unions & a fire in the garment district in the 20’s or 30’s. A family friend told me about it, but she didn’t remember the name of it…

By: kpotenti

kpotenti — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:06:57 +0000

Many of the clips from the movie are on youtube…definitely worth it! http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=schmatta&search_type=&aq=f

By: Miz Proper

Miz Proper — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:13:52 +0000

Does anyone where can you rent this film in toronto or Montreal? We only get HBO Canada and I am a young designer that is very interested. Online anywhere? Let me know if you know thanks margarita

By: Wendy Baker

Wendy Baker — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:42:44 +0000

In 1967 95% of garmets were made in the USA, now only 5%!!! Please lets do something about that!!! We as consumers can and will change the world!!! Think before you buy!!!

By: Wendy Baker

Wendy Baker — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:39:57 +0000

I was flipping through the channels when I caught Schmatta starting. The facts there are so true!!! Our country is going down!! We as people in the fashion industry need to do something about it. We all should buy American made. I know that it is hard to buy the fabric, trim, buttons, snaps, and etc., But we at least need to have our garments made here. We all as designers need to do something. I own a company and I first started in China then San Franscisco now I have a sewing shop and retail shop in my hometown. The fabric is cut and sown in California. I do buy my fabric from a Company that gets it from China but that is because I buy Hemp and that is the producer. If there was a place that made Hemp Fabric in America then I would buy it. We all need to do something about this problem or it is going to die!!! Please buy stuff that is made in America!!! Please pay the extra $10 or whatever!!! Please help your neighbor, you brother and sisters!! Please lets bring factories back to the USA!!! Please!!! Thank you for reading and I really hope this will make you think!!

By: Arnikka

Arnikka — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:42:09 +0000

Wow–I really wish that I could have seen this, I love the history of apparel. I don’t have HBO however, possibly I’ll be able to netflix it straight to my TV. CDBerhle made an interesting comment regarding responsibility for sales. I used to work in high end retail and I can say this: as of right now there is only one high end retailer(outside of the smaller boutiques) that actually makes an attempt to move merchandise–and that desire to sell is reflected in the salespeople who are commission based(like the old days). In addition the retailer funnels products that don’t sell into their own discount venue. All of the other ones hire employees at cut rate hourly pay with no real incentives and then expect them to become excited about selling gowns worth thousands of dollars. Huh? Then on merchandising –eek. There was a time that designer garments were displayed in a certain way–many boutiques still pay attention to floor schematics. Not so much with your big high end retailer—throw it on a rack mish mashed together so that the final effect is that of an overpriced bargain basement. There is no personal attention and the list goes on. I personally believe that this is because the clothing is not “precious” in the same way that it once was. It’s too easily gotten and too cheaply made. I also believe that retail will not get any better until retailers begin valuing their employees which will in turn give them more knowledgeable committed employees which will in turn give customers better service which then will be the reason that customers come back. Thanks for the heads up on the documentary, I will be on the look out for it on DVD or streaming video.

By: Joy

Joy — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:42:36 +0000

This was so interesting and I love that it was in Black and White. I haven’t caught the 2nd part yet, but Im excited to see the conclusion. It’s great to see what is considered entertainment can be educational and knowledge based versus the big blow ‘em feature films..nice to know there’s a place for everything

By: CDBehrle

CDBehrle — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:16:07 +0000

What I loved was the TD explaining why a pair of jeans cost $750.00 and how it circumnavigates the globe during the various processes to completion. What she does not go into is how, when done, the stores take that jean and mark it up 3x, this to cover overhead & their markdowns. Then, to cover themselves further the stores negotiate charge backs and buy backs. So, should the jeans get marked down or not sell the stores get money back from the manufacturer. At what point are the buyers, or the stores themselves held accountable for whether the goods sell or not? Since, really if the numbers don’t crunch- it’s still no skin off their back? This is a huge part, if not the main part of what has driven so much off-shore. There is at this point too much product, too much garbage product and nobody really wants to get down to the nitty gritty as to why it’s like this. The push downwards is a slippery slope and we have to start going back in the other direction.

By: Pattern puzzle: Gloves

Pattern puzzle: Gloves — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:52:51 +0000

[...] maker extraordinaire in yesterday’s NYTimes. How convenient it comes on the tail end of the Schmatta entries. From the NYT: Between 1890 and 1950, Gloversville supplied nearly 90 percent of all gloves [...]

By: Schmatta: Rags To Riches To Rags pt.2

Schmatta: Rags To Riches To Rags pt.2 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:39:31 +0000

[...] Fashion-Incubator caught yesterday’s entry in time to call the cable company and get us hooked up to HBO; an unanticipated present. I think [...]