MUSLIN UNDERWEAR FACTORY.
A factory for the manufacture of muslin underwear, sheets, pillow cases, mosquito nets, starting with not more than ten employes.
A canvass of the five leading dry-goods shops showed that there is undoubtedly a market for a sufficient amount of underwear alone to keep a factory busy at least six months in the year. This is especially true since the pake shops making these articles are finding it difficult to obtain help, the Chinese boys preferring to go into the mercantile shops and factories. A number of small Japanese shops for the manufacture of shirts and shirt waists are finding their work profitable; but the manufacture of underwear requires organizing and concentrating.
In addition to the dry-goods shops in the regular shopping district, a cheaper grade of underwear could be sold to the shops in the Oriental section of the city, which now carry a regular line of American underwear at prices considerably above those asked on the mainland. For instance, a nightgown selling at $1.00 in San Francisco brings $1.35 or even $1.50 here.
Such an establishment should be managed by two trained people; one combining the office detail and selling end with the help of a stenographer and bookkeeper; the other designing and cutting, and in charge of employing and directing the working force. For the latter position it might be possible to secure a woman; but someone with training and practical experience in the underwear business would be indispensable.
Managers of the dry-goods establishments in Honolulu say that if the raw materials were purchased direct from the factory, they believe the enterprise would be successful. A few well-made, well-cut articles to start with would be more desirable than a great variety, they say. A display room to which the community might be invited, would be desirable, and would tend to create a demand for the articles made.
It has also been suggested in connection with such a factory that unfinished overalls in large quantities—10,000 dozen—could be had for finishing from San Francisco, where there is difficulty under the new eight-hour law in getting the work done. This class of work is, however, usually the poorest paid of any of the home industries, and the matter should be carefully looked into.
The present demand (yearly) in the five establishments canvassed is as follows:
| QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF MUSLIN UNDERWEAR AND LINGERIE PURCHASED PER YEAR BY FIVE DRY-GOODS SHOPS.[[1]] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARTICLES. | Price per dozen, (Wholesale). | No. dozen used per year. | Sizes most used. | REMARKS. |
| Aprons | $6.00, 9.00, 15.00, 18.00. | 14 | Medium. | Reported by three firms. |
| Chemises | $6.00, 7.50, 9.00, 12.00, 28.00, 36.00, 48.00. | 242 | 32-44, inclusive | One firm reports majority sold handmade. |
| Combinations: corset covers and drawers | $7.50, 9.00, 12.00, 24.00, 36.00, 60.00 | 80 | 32-44, inclusive | |
| Corset covers and skirts | $7.50, 9.00, 12.00, 36.00, 60.00. | 130 | 32-44, inclusive | |
| Corset covers | $2.25, 4.00, 4.50, 5.00, 6.00, 15.00, 24.00. | 91 | 34-40, inclusive | One firm reports few sold. |
| Drawers | $2.25, 4.50, 5.75, 11.50, 24.00. | 126 | 23-27 | One firm reports little demand. |
| Muslin or Nainsook princess slips | $9.00, 12.00, 24.00, 36.00, 48.00, 50.00. | 310 | 36-40, inclusive | One firm reports little demand. |
| Skirts | $4.50, 6.00, 12.00, 24.00, 60.00, 108.00. | 208 | all sizes, 36-42 | |
| Kimonos | $6.00, 12.00, 36.00, 48.00, 60.00, 96.00. | 25 | 32-44 | |
| Dressing sacques | $4.50, 9.00, 12.00, 18.00, 30.00, 48.00. | 97 | 32-44 | |
[1]. At present these articles are purchased in New York City.