What manufacturing concept did the speed of the new sewing machines enable within the garment industry?
Answer
Mass production
The immense increase in production speed—where machine operators could achieve hundreds of stitches per minute, far surpassing human capability—directly facilitated the shift towards mass production. Before this technology, garment creation relied on bespoke work or small workshops due to the high labor cost per item. With the mechanized speed, manufacturers could produce standardized items rapidly and at vastly reduced labor costs per unit, leading directly to the rise of the ready-to-wear clothing sector that defines modern retail by making large volumes of consistent apparel economically viable.
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