ABSTRACT
The large number of visual documents used required new interpretative frameworks and new methodologies, which have important implications for the understanding of the history of dress, and of the clothing industry. The investigations of Stanley Chapman, Andrew Godley and Katrina Honeyman into the history of ready-to-wear clothing production had previously established the importance of this sector as early as 1850, particularly in London and in Leeds. The writing-out of firms like Coop of Wigan may have been hastened by their focus on boys’ clothing, which can be deduced from their publicity posters. In fact, many of the firms now recognised as leaders in mass-production specialised in boys’ clothing, as both Levitt and Honeyman noted. The documents from retailers revealed the importance of boys’ clothing in the development of ready-to-wear retailing, multiple retailing, and mail order.
