THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GARMENT INDUSTRY IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

by Emma Sidoriak

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Honors Degree in Apparel Design with Distinction

Spring 2014

Approved by Dr. Marsha A. Dickson, Ph.D. Professor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee; Dr. Farley Grubb, Ph. D. Committee member from the Department of Business and Economics; Dr. David R. Legates, Ph.D. Committee member from the Board of Senior Thesis Readers; and Michael Arnold, Ph.D. Director of the University Honors Program.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my professor, Dr. Marsha Dickson, for all of the time she dedicated to my thesis and for sharing her extensive knowledge about the garment industry. I would also like to thank my professor, Dr. Farley Grubb, for inspiring me to write a thesis involving economic history and Dr. David Legates, for his perspective as an outsider.

A special thanks to my grandmother, Candy Hartz Matukonis, for helping me connect with workers in Schuylkill County; my parents for listening to my writing woes and assisting me throughout the whole process; my aunt who shared her knowledge of the industry and the area; and to all of the dear people of Schuylkill County that shared their knowledge and experiences, certainly making for some of the most interesting parts of this story.

ABSTRACT

Schuylkill County’s economic successes and downfalls have been closely tied to its garment industry—both the economy and garment industry were booming from the 1930s to the 1950s, both declined in the 1970s, and both are quite devastated today. The purposes of this study are to determine what forces led to the rise and fall of the garment industry of Schuylkill County; to analyze if there is a possibility to effectively re-establish a new garment industry in the county; and to bring awareness about Schuylkill County’s national importance and its currently poor economy. Data have been collected from one-on-one interviews of people who lived and worked in the garment factories of Schuylkill County; primary sources provided by the Schuylkill County Historical Society; and various books and articles. The data supports the conclusions that the rise and fall of the county’s garment industry was a result of three major forces: the fashion industry’s pattern of seeking out the lowest cost of labor; globalization and the reduction of barriers due to free trade; and the increased demand in America for better working rights and more consumption. Establishing a new garment industry in the Schuylkill County would be difficult but possible; recommendations include expanding the local labor force with new immigrants and producing high-quality, innovative products.