'Sent from Town': Commissioning Clothing in Britain During the Long Eighteenth Century

Author: Lambert, Miles

Source: Costume, Volume 43, Number 1, 2009 , pp. 66-84(19)

Publisher: Maney Publishing

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Abstract:

The long period from the Restoration to the accession of Queen Victoria saw a rise in 'popular consumerism' affecting many aspects of British society and commerce, nowhere more so than in the market for textiles and clothing. Consumers were offered an increasing range of finished goods, rather than merely materials, but many of these were available only in larger towns. To access goods, customers often relied on the long-established process of commissioning at a distance through the offices of family members, friends or business contacts, acting as agents. This formed a significant channel for elite and popular consumption.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1179/174963009x419737

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