Sweatshop Collection

Paris seamstresses work in a clothing sweatshop, France. By Pierre Vidal, 1894 (engraving)
5669473 Paris seamstresses work in a clothing sweatshop, France. By Pierre Vidal, 1894 (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Women living in the East End of London, making knitted stockings and mittens, 1869
3478870 Women living in the East End of London, making knitted stockings and mittens, 1869; (add.info.: Two elderly women living in the East End of London)

Making artificial flowers, in the work-shop of the Girls' Flower brigade, 1882
3478869 Making artificial flowers, in the work-shop of the Girls' Flower brigade, 1882; (add.info.: Making artificial flowers, in the work-shop of the Girls' Flower brigade, Clerkenwell)

Woman supervisor in an East End of London button factory, 1890
3478858 Woman supervisor in an East End of London button factory, 1890; (add.info.: Woman supervisor in an East End of London button factory; fainting from bad ventilation and undernourishment)

Flag shop, Navy Yard, 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Flag shop, Navy Yard, 1917. Shows women making flags on sewing machines at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.

Girls making cartridges for Enfield rifles at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, 1862. Creator: Unknown
Girls making cartridges for Enfield rifles at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, 1862. Our illustration was taken [at]...the Royal Laboratory Department...near the Plumstead marshes

Workers hang thousands of metres of different coloured t-shirt fabrics to dry in Narayanganj, Dhaka, Bangladesh

A group of female dressmakers working together on an elaborate evening gown. Date: 1853

Paris launderers work in a launderette sweatshop, France, 1894 (illustration)
5672177 Paris launderers work in a launderette sweatshop, France, 1894 (illustration) by Vidal, Pierre (b.1849); Universal History Archive/UIG; French, out of copyright

The Haunted Lady
5307951 The Haunted Lady. by Tenniel, John (1820-1914); (add.info.: Cartoon titled The Haunted Lady. The dressmaker enthusing over the wonderful gown that has been made for an aristocratic client)

Diamond polishing, Jaipur, India
A man squats on the floor by the window of his Jaipur workshop and polishes diamonds with a hand powered cutting machine Date: 1987

A German spinning school, c1880. A print from Great Industries of Great Britain, Volume I, published by Cassell Petter and Galpin, (London, Paris, New York, c1880)

TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE. A window and fire escape of the Asch Building after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Photograph, 25 March 1911

CHILD LABOR, 1889. A 12-year-old boy pulling threads in a New York City garment sweatshop. Photographed by Jacob Riis, c1889

SWEATSHOP, 1890. A necktie workshop in a tenement on Division Street, New York City. Photograph, 1890, by Jacob A. Riis

HINE: CLOTHING FACTORY, NY. Women workers at a garment factory in New York. Early 20th century photograph by Lewis Hine

HINE: GARMENT MAKER. Women sewing garments at a sweatshop in America. Early 20th century photograph by Lewis Hine

NEW YORK: SHOE FACTORY. A shoe factory in Syracuse, New York. Stitching and fitting department. Stereograph, c1925

The Couturiers workshop, Arles, 1760 (oil on canvas)
XIR24984 The Couturiers workshop, Arles, 1760 (oil on canvas) by Raspal, Antoine (1738-1811); Musee Reattu, Arles, France; French, out of copyright

Ironing Workshop in Trouville, 1888 (oil on canvas)
XIR157945 Ironing Workshop in Trouville, 1888 (oil on canvas) by Anthonissen, Louis Joseph (1849-1913); 60x83 cm; Musee des Beaux-Arts, Pau

Women and Children Making Shoes (engraving) (b / w photo)
XJF137006 Women and Children Making Shoes (engraving) (b/w photo) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

NEW YORK: SWEATSHOP, c1915. Woman garment worker in an unidentified New York Sweatshop, c1915

TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE. The New York City skyscrpaer which housed the Triangle Shirtwaist factory, and in which a deadly fire occurred 25 March 1911; 150 workers, mostly young women perished

RUSSIAN SHOE FACTORY, 1888. Boys in a Russian shoe factory in 1888. Note the ubiquitous Singer sewing machine

NEW YORK: SWEATSHOP, c1900. Workers in a clothing sweatshop on Ludlow Street in New York City. Photograph by Jacob Riis, c1900

NEW YORK: SWEATSHOP. Italian women sewing in a Lower Manhattan sweatshop. Photograph by Jacob Riis, c1900

NEW YORK: MOE LEVY WORKSHOP. Moe Levys clothing workshop in New York City. Photograph, c1912

HINE: SWEATSHOP, 1908. Group of workers sewing garments in a sweatshop in New York City. Photograph by Lewis Hine, 1908

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1908. Young workers eating their lunch on the floor between the spinning machines at the Kesler Mfg. Co. in Salisbury, North Carolina. Photograph by Lewis Hine, December 1908

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1911. A mill supervisor with a group of young workers all under the age of sixteen at a yarn mill in Yazoo City, Mississippi. Photograph by Lewis Hine, May 1911

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1908. A young spinner working in Vivian Cotton Mills in Cherryville, North Carolina. Photograph by Lewis Hine, November 1908

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1914. An eleven-year old girl working as a looper in the Crescent Hosiery Mill in Scotland Neck, North Carolina. Photograph by Lewis Hine, November 1914

SWEATSHOP, c1900. Interior of an Improved Sweat-shop in a Well-Lighted Loft. Drawing, c1900

HINE: SWEATSHOP, 1908. Women sewing garments in a sweatshop in New York City. Photograph by Lewis Hine, 1908

HINE: SWEATSHOP, 1908. Group of women sewing garments in a sweatshop in New York City. Photograph by Lewis Hine, 1908

HINE: SWEATSHOP, 1908. Men and boys sewing garments in a New York City sweatshop. Photograph by Lewis Hine, 1912

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1910. Young garment workers sewing piecework in a tenement apartment in New York City. Photograph by Lewis Hine, 1910

HINE: SWEATSHOP LABOR, 1908. Women sewing garments in a sweatshop in New York City. Photographed by Lewis Hine, 1908

WOMAN WORKER, 1900. Assembling artificial flowers, c1900

SWEATSHOPS, 1912. A sweatshop in New York City. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine, 1912

SWEATSHOP, 1892. A Chicago sweatshop, 1892. Drawing by Otto H. Bacher

SWEATSHOP, 1912. Children are cheaper than grown-ups. Girls and young women working at their sewing machines in a sweatshop in New York City. Drawing, 1912, by Walter Tittle

NEW YORK SWEATSHOP, 1912. Interior of a garment sweatshop in New York City, 1912

TEDDY BEAR FACTORY, c1915. Women at work making teddy bears in an American factory. Photograph, c1915

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1909. Young girls working in the cotton spool room at the Bibbings Manufacturing Company in Macon, Georgia. Photograph by Lewis Hine, January 1909

WOMEN WORKERS, c1910. New England shoe factory, c1910

Group of women in a New York sweatshop making garments. In the foreground are sewing machines. Young girl by the fireplace is probably 14-years old. Photograph February 1908

Immigrant workers: Men and a boy in a New York sweatshop, c1910. Photograph

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"In the depths of history, a group of skilled female dressmakers toil together, crafting an exquisite evening gown in 1853. Their nimble fingers dance across the fabric, weaving intricate patterns that would grace the grandest ballrooms. In another corner of the world, workers hang thousands of meters of vibrant t-shirt fabrics to dry. Each color tells a story, waiting to be transformed into fashionable garments that will adorn bodies around the globe. Lewis Hine's lens captures the harsh reality within New York tenement sweatshops. The haunting image reveals exhausted faces and cramped spaces where dreams are stitched under oppressive conditions. Across borders in France, Paris launderers find themselves trapped in a launderette sweatshop in 1894. Illustrated scenes depict their tireless efforts as they battle against time and fatigue to clean clothes for others. "The Haunted Lady" emerges from behind closed doors—a black and white photograph exposing yet another sweatshop scene. Here, nameless individuals work tirelessly with little respite or reward—mere cogs in an unforgiving machine. Diamond polishing takes center stage in Jaipur, India—an industry known for its grueling labor practices. Workers meticulously shape precious stones while enduring long hours and meager wages. Traveling back through time to a German spinning school circa 1880—the innocence of youth is overshadowed by arduous training regimes meant to prepare them for life inside factories filled with ceaseless noise and relentless demands. Once again we witness workers hanging thousands of meters of colorful t-shirt fabrics—this time symbolizing both resilience and exploitation; their hopes intertwined with struggles as they strive for better lives amidst challenging circumstances. The infamous Triangle Factory Fire leaves us mourning lives lost due to unsafe working conditions—a tragic reminder that progress often comes at great cost. We honor those who perished by striving for safer workplaces today. Returning once more to Division Street in New York City during 1890—we glimpse into a necktie workshop nestled within a tenement.