Comments on: The Costume & Mantle Worker

By: Hilda Kean

Hilda Kean — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 19:48:24 +0000

The radical nature of Jewish activism within the trade union movement of the 1930s is often overlooked. Obviously the Nazi Holocaust murdered millions of European Jewish people but it also destroyed the influence of the socialist – and anti zionist – Bund. Unfortunately such a radical tradition is not widely known – or acknowledged – today. Thanks for bringing it to light.
(The William Morris reference to having beautiful things in your home is a tad ironic considering he was generally scathing about the skills of the furniture making trade in East London.)

By: Phil Maxwell

Phil Maxwell — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 10:52:00 +0000

Thanks for this research. I only wish there were as many Trade Union activists in the East End today as there were then.

By: Kate

Kate — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 09:09:36 +0000

Absolutely fascinating. I love it when you juxtapose the past with the modern day.

By: Adele

Adele — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 13:35:47 +0000

Most of my father’s family were in the East End rag trade. On Sunday mornings it was customary for the out of work tailors, machinists and pressers to meet in Whitechapel across from Greatorex Street (near the bombed out Pavillion) to find a job – it was known as “Going to the Union”. Such an interesting piece of our disappearing history in the area.

By: Ros

Ros — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 11:21:59 +0000

This really shows the value of keeping archives on all sorts of subjects. There’s so much of interest here about the Rag Trade, Trades Union history, Jewish firms and a great chunk of Spitalfields and indeed British history. Loved ‘ the duty of every citizen is to make the home beautiful’! Also the photos add to the ongoing story beautifully.

By: Eddie Johnson

Eddie Johnson — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 07:39:09 +0000

Fascinating, I used to see all the pressers throng every morning round Black Lion Yard, I was on the top of a trolley bus!

By: Barbara Elsmore

Barbara Elsmore — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 06:47:22 +0000

Love the tailor’s stool a fabulous link with the past. How easily this could have been chopped up for firewood – a survivor to be cherished along with its advert.

By: Valerie-Jael

Valerie-Jael — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 06:42:21 +0000

Nice to see the old adverts. The family of my mother all worked in the ‘rag trade’ for various firms and shops. Valerie