Apparel Industry Workers

Working conditions in apparel production vary by establishment and type of job. Older factories may be poorly lit and ventilated and may be congested. Modern facilities usually are more comfortable, better lit and ventilated, have more work space, and may even be carpeted. Patternmaking and spreading areas and retail stores are quiet, while sewing and pressing facilities often are noisy. Laundries and dry cleaning establishments frequently are hot and noisy.

Apparel workers generally work a 35- to 40-hour, five-day week. Except for sewing, the apparel manufacturing industry traditionally has involved several shifts and therefore requires some employees to work evenings or weekends. Some companies have two sewing shifts to offset the cost of expensive machinery. Laundry and dry cleaning and retail workers may work evening and weekend hours.

Apparel production work can be monotonous, repetitive, and physically demanding. Workers may sit or stand many hours, leaning over tables or operating machinery. However, the physical demand on apparel workers has decreased as new machinery and production techniques, such as footpedal or computer-controlled pressing machines, have been implemented. While apparel workers face no serious health hazards or dangers, they need to be attentive while operating such equipment as automated cutters, sewing machines, or pressers. Some workers must wear gloves or other protective attire or devices.

Emphasis on teamwork and cooperation is increasing in those areas of apparel production that employ a modular system. As the module or team often must manage itself, groups and individual sewing machine operators may be under pressure to improve their performance while maintaining quality.