Study On Characteristics Of Shanghai’s Men’s Suit Industry During The Republic Of China Period (1912-1949)

Shanghai’s men’s suit industry during the Republic of China period plays a significant part in costume history of Modern China, and the development of it takes on an extremely obvious characteristic. The study on characteristics of it will not only make a contribution to historical research, but also give a lot of useful experience for establishing fashion city of Shanghai and constructing fashion industry of China. Based on historical records, reference the theory of Industrial Economics, the thesis does a research on the characteristics of the enterprises of men’s suit industry, market behavior, industrial agglomeration and industrial management from the perspective of costume history. Conclusions are as follows:1. With the change of social formation of the Republic of China which led to the change of consumption concept, suit gradually became the daily dress. At this early stage, the group consuming suits mainly belonged to middle class, but later became the mainstream of popular costumes.In order to meet the needs of all classes, various grades of suits products emerged.2. According to registered property scale, enterprises of Shanghai’s men’s suit industry were divided into four classes. In addition to the differences of property scale among enterprises, there were no obvious distinctions on personnel scale and product category existing in the four different classes.3. In addition to registered asset scale difference, suit enterprises are also difference in the geograghical distribution and shop area at that time. The big and high level shops opend on the flourishing business street, while the small and low level shops opened in the branch and less prosperous regions.4. Dealing with problems that foreign fabric were prohibited from import and the shortage of domestic fabrics after the victory of the Second World War, suit enterprises procured fabric and trimming by means of Suit Trade Council. A form that Suit Trade Council sent collective orders to Fabric and Trimming Trade Council came into being.5. In order to maintain market stability, Suit Trade Council drafted a fixing price among suit enterprises. On the basis of different workmanship and material, the price was divided into several classes.ach company chose two or three out as its product range.6. The hierarchy of enterprise and the hierarchy of workmanship and material are totally different concepts, and they are not certainly in direct proportion.7. Enterprises brought out characteristic products to occupy more market share. To get adapt to the social society, the enterprises produced a large number of western formal dress and uniform for the Shanghai’s market.8. To keep up with the time, enterprises adopted a new media form as promotion methods in addition to pass from mouth to mouth. The new form was included advertising in newspapers and magazines, inserting lantern advertisement in the movie screen and so on.9. Suit enterprises were mainly gathering at Nanjing Road, North Sichuan Road, Hubei Road, Huaihai Road and Wusong Road. Among the five blocks, stores in Nanjing Road ranked higher than other stores. Although these stores mostly belonged to First Class, their agglomeration degree was the lowest. Stores in Huaihai Road consisted of Second Class and second-hand suit stores. Their levels were relatively high and agglomeration degrees were the highest. Levels of stores on Sichuan Road were relatively low, and they were mostly Third and Forth Classes The agglomeration degree was the same as the stores on Nanjing Road, and the class was gradually getting lower from south to north. Levels of stores on Hubei Road were the lowest. Those stores mostly belonged to Forth Class and agglomeration degree was relatively high. Stores on Wusong Road were mainly second-hand suit stores. Their agglomeration degree was relatively high and was next only to Huaihai Road.10. At that time, Suit Trade Council was in charge of suit industry and made a big effect on management and promotion of enterprises. The distinguished feature of Suit Trade Council was its hierarchy based on turbulent social situation and that guaranteed the interests of suit enterprises through standard management.