Skilled Immigrants in the Textile and Fashion Industries: Stories from a Globe-Spanning History

(Hardback)

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With contributions from leading experts, this edited collection presents original research on the skills brought by immigrant communities to the textile and fashion industries, from the early modern to postmodern periods in Asia and the Islamic World, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Manufacturing of textiles and apparel is arduous work, which historically depended on skilled artisans, inexpensive labor, and the introduction of labor-saving technology. Immigrant communities supplied much of the work force, bringing their own skill sets to new locations, leading to the development of new manufacturing centers and an increase in both production and technical expertise. Throughout the volume, the role of migration and immigrant involvement in manufacturing is also examined in relation to trade, politics, and socio-religious circumstances prompting relocation. Deconstructing the question of provenance by examining the cultural identity of migrant populations, the research brings to light ongoing dilemmas and practices of diaspora communities. By analyzing material, mythical, and technical aspects of textile and apparel production, contributors create a new narrative about textile- and garment-making as a collective endeavor, requiring diversity of skill and methodology to thrive.

Reviews

Extends valuable critical enquiry into the role historically played by workers in textile and garment production. It is an important collection of studies for design history researchers, especially those with an interest in sericulture and silk consumption. -- Katie Irani, Doctorate researcher, Royal College of Art & Associate Lecturer, London College of Fashion, UK
Spanning centuries and continents, the essays in this volume integrate mythology, Abrahamic narratives, plantation ledgers and personal accounts to complement the scholarly analysis of the histories, skill, knowledge and craft that construct individual identity and accompany human migration. -- Wendy Weiss, Emeritus Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

Author Bio

Nazanin Hedayat Munroe is the Director of Textiles and Assistant Professor at City University of New York where she teaches textile design, historic dress and contemporary fashion. A former textile specialist and educator at The Metropolitan Museum, Nazanin is also a nationally acclaimed artist. She is the co-author of A Cultural History of Western Fashion (Bloomsbury Visual Arts, 2022), the author of Sufi Lovers, Safavid Silks and Early Modern Identity (2023) and the editor of Skilled Immigrants in the Textile and Fashion Industries (Bloomsbury Visual Arts, 2024).