Figure 1.--

Jews for centuries played an important role in the production of clothing throughout medeival Europe where Jews were permitted to live. This was in part because many laws throughout Europe were promulgated restricting Jewish land ownership and other economic activity. Jewish clothing designers and manufacturers by the 19th century had become prominent in both Germany and Austria. Jews also owned some of the most prominent department stores. The NAZIs even claimed that the department stores were a threat to German industry. Less prominent Jews owned countless retails establishments both making and selling clothes.

Biblical Times

The relationship bwten Jews and clothing and fashion dates back to Biblical days. Jewish dyers and weavers held high status within the temple.

The Diaspora

The Jewish Diaspora (dispersion or scattering") began in the 8th cntury BC when the Assyrians conquered Israel. The jews were scattered all over the Middle East. These early victims of foreign conquest have disappeared from the historical record. The Babalonian King Nebuchadnezzar who conquered the Judaeans at the end of the 6th century allowed them to remain in a unified community in Babylon. Another group of Judaeans fled to Egypt, where they settled in the Nile delta. The Diaspora thus generally dates from the Babelonian conquest in 597. There were three distinct groups of Jews: a group in Babylon and other parts of the Middle East, a group in Judaea, and another group in Egypt. The modern Diaspora begins with the Roman conquest and especially the supression of the Jewish revolt in the 1st century AD. The Romans by 70 AD were actively driving Jews from the land in which they had lived for over a millenium. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem and put the Jews in the city to the sword, annexed Judaea as a Roman province, and systematically drove the Jews from Palestine. After 73 AD, Jewish history would only be the history of the Diaspora as the Jews spread over Africa, Asia, Europe, and finally the Americas. The Jews in the Diaspora brought their tailoring skills with them. Jews in Rome become known for the repair and trade in used clothing.

Medieval Europe

Jews for centuries played an important role in the production of clothing throughout medeival Europe where Jews were permitted to live. This was in part because many laws throughout Europe were promulgated restricting Jewish land ownership and other economic activity.

Holy Roman Empire

Germany by the 13th century was composed of a multiplicity of principalities looesely organozed in the Holy Roman Empire. These principalities each had laws governing the Jews and were constantly changing them. Jews in Prussia and other German states are from an early point associated with clothing and the clothes trade. Berlin authorities in 1295 prohibit weavers from buying yarn from Jews. Th Jews were often blamed for The Plague which swept Europe in thev14th century. Berlin authorities in 1348 blamed the Jews for The Plague and expelled them. Berlin like many other German towns and principalities repeatedly expel and readmit Jews. Other countries like England, Spanin, and Portugal conduct more draconian expulsions as well as create the Holy Inquisition to make sure Jewish converts do not secetly practice Judiasm. Prussia in the 15th century forbids Jews to enter many professions, own land or join trade guilds. Such regulations were common throuughout Europe. Prussian Jews manage to eake out a meager living trading in used clothes and tailoring. Restrictions are often put on Jewish tailors because of compalaints from Christian tailors. Christian tailors in Vienna during 1644 complain that Jewish tailors are making ready-to-wear garments and employing Christian to sew the garments.

German Empire

Germany is united under the Prussian crown in 1871. The new German Empire grants Jews full citizenship. (Austria had done the same in 1867.) Jewish clothing designers and manufacturers by the 19th century had become prominent in both Germany and Austria. Pogroms especially in Russian and Russian-controlled Poland (1881-1883 and 1903-1905) cause a mass mass emigration of Jews from Russian and Eastern Europe to America and Western Europe--many come to Berlin and Vienna. Jews open some of the most prominent department stores. German Jews also move into large scale manufacturing of clothing.

Weimar Republic

Berlin Jews are by the 1920s highly influential in the fashion industry as well as the arts and music. Jews in 1929 reportedly owned half of German clothing manufacturing firms, especially firms making ready-to-wear clothing. The NAZIs claimed that the department stores were a threat to German industry. Less prominent Jews owned countless retails establishments both making and selling clothes.

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Created: June 4, 2002
Last updated: June 4, 2002