Meaning
A woman who sewed for a living, making or repairing garments and household linen.
Description
Seamstresses worked in a wide range of settings — in their own homes taking in sewing, in dressmaking workshops, in the households of wealthy employers or in clothing factories. The work was poorly paid and the hours extremely long. Many seamstresses, particularly those making fashionable garments under pressure of delivery deadlines, worked through the night. The trade was associated with poverty and exploitation and featured prominently in Victorian campaigns for improved working conditions. The introduction of the sewing machine reduced some of the drudgery but also reduced piece rates.
Also Known As
Dressmaker, Needlewoman, Tailoress
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Parish Registers
- Poor Law Records
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