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Story: Clothing and footwear manufacturing

Home sewing

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Home sewing

While men’s clothes were tailor-made or shop-bought, women often made their own clothes and their children’s. Sewing machines were widely available by the 1890s. This woman is demonstrating a Victory treadle sewing machine. The simpler fashions of the 20th century made home sewing easier.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Steffano Webb Collection (PAColl-3061)

Reference: 1/1-004058; G

by Steffano Francis Webb

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jane Tolerton, Clothing and footwear manufacturing – Māori and colonial clothing, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/23978/home-sewing (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Jane Tolerton, published 6 April 2010.