Local Industry Archives - Hackney Museum

Hackney and the Garment Trade: Singing Strikers and Trade Unions

29 January 202529 March 2023

Black and white photo of buildings on Hoxton Square. The middle building is the London headquarters of the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers, circa 1950s.

This blog post explores the story of striking workers at two large factories in Hackney and how they rallied together to oppose their employers, using the power of song.

Hackney and the Garment Trade: The First Threads

29 January 202528 March 2023

Sepia image of all-female workforce at the Simpsons Clothing Factory. The women are sitting down at long wooden benches, facing one another and working on garments.

This post focuses on the origins of the garment trade in Hackney and the groups who contributed to its growth.