Hosiery and Knitwear: Four Centuries of Small-Scale Industry in Britain, c. 1589-2000 (Pasold Studies in Textile History)

Hoisery and knitwear is familiar as a traditional British industry of small-scale family firms. This pioneer study traces in rich detail the tensions between internal aspirations of leaders (craftmanship, lifestyle, and supporting infrastructure) and external pressures (banks, wholesalers, chain store groups, and takeovers). The industry's history is traced from its beginnings in the early 1600s down to the end of the twentieth century.