In the 1960s, Chinese immigrants started to enter America and New York City in vast numbers. Immigrants came to New York with nothing but personal belongings and family. They had no money to afford a brand new house or have the luxury to look for a high paying job. Many Chinese immigrants would accept any job that would help feed their family. That’s how the Garment Industry began to grow.
Garment factories were extremely popular to Chinese immigrants because it was extremely flexible and friendly. The pay was not based hourly but by quantity; the company paid for each product that was produced. This allowed for employees, mainly Chinese mothers, to have time to send their children to school, work, and then pick them up again. Another benefit of garment factories was the friendly environment. Because work was scarce, Chinese immigrants would tell others about their factory that they work in. This would allow for hundreds of friends and family members to work together, being able to communicate and gossip to pass time.
By the 1980s, garment factories became one of the most successful businesses. Many factories would employ several thousands workers to produce dresses and jackets for $2-$4 a piece, while selling the product online or to retailers for $300-$600 a piece. With a huge profit margin, owners were able to open more factories while keeping pay to a minimum. However, this profitable business would not last forever…
Citation:
Chao, Eveline. “A Makeover for Chinatown’s Garment Industry.” Open City. N.p., 7 Jan. 2014. Web. 08 Dec. 2016.