Meaning
A merchant who sold cloth and fabric goods, either wholesale or retail.
Description
Drapers dealt in a wide range of woven and knitted textiles including wool, linen, cotton and silk. A linen draper specialised in lighter fabrics while a woollen draper sold heavier cloth. Many drapers also stocked haberdashery, ribbons, buttons and trimmings. The draper's shop was a central feature of Victorian high streets and market towns. Large drapery establishments employed numerous assistants, many of whom lived on the premises in dormitories. The trade required knowledge of fabrics and considerable commercial acumen.
Also Known As
Linen Draper, Woollen Draper, Cloth Merchant
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Trade Directories
- Apprenticeship Records
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