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The War required major changes in the British clothing industry. Thus time Britsain did not wait for severl years to introduce conscription as it had done in World war I. The mass call ups required a major shift to produce uniforms. This significantly reduced the production of civilian consumer clothing. The governent set sandardfs for civilin clothing production. Clothing and footwear were made to a standard. All items conforming to a war time standard had a special brand mark. Like food, clothing was also rationed. British clothing factories and mills concentrated primarily on making uniforms for the military as well as various uniformed civilian groups. In addition, the need for food and war supplies meant that was less cargo space available for cotton and other raw materials. Britain's ability to pay for imports was another factor. American Lend Lease financed the purchase of war material, but not clothing for the civilian population. Thus the amount of clothing produced for the civilian population declined significantly. People had to wear their clothing longer and mend it as much as possible. The Government introduced clothes rationing duced on June 1, 1941. One HBC reader asks, "I'm trying to find out this a question about rationing. A contemporary soure indicates, `On June 1, 1941, each British person was issued with 66 clothes coupons to last a year.' My question is, how many coupons would youn need for a woollen dress and a man's overcoat?" HBC not at this time has only limited details, but hopefully we will eventually learn more about the rationing system. We note another source which indicates that each person had about 48 clothes coupons a year. Each garment was assigned a value in coupons. Each individual or in the case of children, their parents, could decide how best to use those coupons. We do not have a complete listing of garment coupon values, nor do we know if the values cahanged over time. One source provides this list of the value assigned to children's clothes:
Mackintosh (rain coat) -- 7, jacket -- 6, cardigan -- 5, trousers (long pants) -- 6, dress -- 5, gym tunic (school dress) -- 4, skirt -- 4, knickers (short pants) -- 2, shoes -- 2, and socks -- 1. Note that long pants needed three times the number of coupons as short pants. Obviously the Government was promoting short pants for boys because they required less material. The number of coupons for shoes seems surprisingly low. Sandals were not mentioned, presumably they had the same coupon value as shoes. A reader tells us that there were three stages to the clothes rationing system. As part of those regulations it was mandated that schoolboys under 5'6" (168cms) couldn't buy new long trousers. Interestingly during the 1950s some schools had uniform regulations stating that boys under 5'6" had to wear short trousers as part of the school uniform. This was presumably a leftover from the war years; an example of how school regulations persisted. We do not yet have the precise details on these regulations. One reader tells us that they were introduced in 1943.
The War required major changes in the British clothing industry. Thus time Britain did not wait for severl years to introduce conscription as it had done in World war I. The mass call ups required a major shift to produce uniforms. This significantly reduced the production of civilian consumer clothing.
The governent set sandardfs for civilin clothing production. Clothing and footwear were made to a standard. All items conforming to a war time standard had a special brand mark.
British clothing factories and mills concentrated primarily on making uniforms for the military as well as various uniformed civilian groups. The basic problem was a shortage of raw material. In addition, the need for food and war supplies meant that was less shipping cargo space available for cotton and other raw materials neeed for clothing production. Britain's ability to pay for imports was another factor. American Lend Lease financed the purchase of war material, but not clothing for the civilian population. Thus the amount of clothing produced for the civilian population declined significantly.
People had to wear their clothing longer and mend it as much as possible. People were also urged to "Make do and mend" so that clothing factories and workers could be used to make items, such as parachutes and uniforms, needed in the battle against Germany.
There was a paradox with the 'Make do and mend' Policy. Whilst mothers were encouraged to 'let out' their children's clothes, they were limited in this by a regulation that limited the size of seams and hems. (To save material.) If the hems couldn't be let out, a whole new garment had to be bought!
Like food, clothing was also rationed, but not at the onset of the war. The Government introduced clothes rationing (June 1, 1941). One reader tells us that mew regulations were introduced in 1943. Clothes rationing did not end until 4 years after the War (March 5, 1949). each British person was issued with 66 clothes coupons to last a year.' My question is, how many coupons would youn need for a woollen dress and a man's overcoat?" HBC not at this time has only limited details, but hopefully we will eventually learn more about the rationing system. We note another source which indicates that each person had about 48 clothes coupons a year. Each garment was assigned a value in coupons. Each individual or in the case of children, their parents, could decide how best to use those coupons. The clothing coupons were issued with the food coupons. Although the year's supply of coupons was issued in each book, they were printed in different colours - each colour was valid from the date decreed by the government. Coupons could be saved from previous periods, but not used in advance. The idea behind this was to stop people buying everything at once when they got the coupons, which would have caused a surge of demand.
Attached are the points needed for specific items. Each person was given 60 coupons per year - reduced to 48 later in the war. As stated above, children got an extra 10 points.
The Government introduced clothes rationing (June 1, 1941). One reader tells us that mew regulations were introduced in 1943.
Clothes rationing did not end until 4 years after the War (March 5, 1949).
One HBC reader asks, "I'm trying to find out this a question about rationing. A contemporary soure indicates, `On June 1, 1941, each British person was issued with 66 clothes coupons to last a year.' My question is, how many coupons would youn need for a woollen dress and a man's overcoat?" HBC not at this time has only limited details, but hopefully we will eventually learn more about the rationing system. We note another source which indicates that each person had about 48 clothes coupons a year. Each garment was assigned a value in coupons. Each individual or in the case of children, their parents, could decide how best to use those coupons. We do not have a complete listing of garment coupon values, nor do we know if the values cahanged over time. One source provides this list of the value assigned to children's clothes:
Mackintosh (rain coat) -- 7, jacket -- 6, cardigan -- 5, trousers (long pants) -- 6, dress -- 5, gym tunic (school dress) -- 4, skirt -- 4, knickers (short pants) -- 2, shoes -- 2, and socks -- 1. Note that long pants needed three times the number of coupons as short pants. Obviously the Government was promoting short pants for boys because they required less material. The number of coupons for shoes seems surprisingly low. Sandals were not mentioned, presumably they had the same coupon value as shoes. A reader tells us that there were three stages to the clothes rationing system. As part of those regulations it was mandated that schoolboys under 5'6" (168cms) couldn't buy new long trousers. Interestingly during the 1950s some schools had uniform regulations stating that boys under 5'6" had to wear short trousers as part of the school uniform. This was presumably a leftover from the war years an example of how school regulations persisted. We do not yet have the precise details on these regulations.
The clothing coupons were issued with the food coupons. Although the year's supply of coupons was issued in each book, they were printed in different colours - each colour was valid from the date decreed by the government. Coupons could be saved from previous periods, but not used in advance. The idea behind this was to stop people buying everything at once when they got the coupons, which would have caused a surge of demand.
Attached are the points needed for specific items. Each person was given 60 coupons per year - reduced to 48 later in the war. As stated above, children got an extra 10 points.
Many peoplw were bombed out of their himes during the Blitz, losing everything. Thus centers were set up to supply clothes and other needed items. In addition to buying new clothing there were Clothing Exchanges, which were popular places to get ration free second hand clothes. Most clothing was worn until it came to the end of its usefullness, it may not have been worn out. In the case of children it was often just outgrown. There might not have been a younger child to get a hand-down. Children received 10 extra points to allow for growth.
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