Meaning
A craftsman who made stays and corsets, the structured undergarments worn by women.
Description
Staymakers constructed the boned and stiffened undergarments worn by women of all social classes to shape and support the body. The work involved cutting and stitching heavy fabric, inserting whalebone or cane stays and finishing the garment to the required shape. Staymaking was a skilled trade requiring knowledge of both tailoring and the female figure. In the 18th century most staymakers were men but by the Victorian era the trade was increasingly female. The introduction of factory-made corsetry in the mid-19th century gradually displaced the bespoke staymaker.
Also Known As
Corset Maker, Corsetière
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Trade Directories
- Apprenticeship Records
- Parish Registers
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