On the Job - Uniform Requirements (Or Lack Thereof)

LFP 1950-01-13 Holeproof Hosiery London; Dougan 2B.jpg

A photo of two women working at Holeproof Hosiery on what looks to be a steam and press machine that made the stockings stay in the desired shape. LFP 1950-01-13. Dougan 2B. London Free Press Collection of Photographic Negatives, Archives and Special Collections, Western Libraries, Western University.

Both Holeproof Hosiery and London Hosiery Mills had no consistent uniform policy throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. Female workers were permitted to where whatever they desired – with no advice given on potential safety hazards related to clothing. In the fifties, women generally wore blouses and skirts but by the sixties, when pants were more acceptable, they became popular within factories due to their practicality.

Ward describes what she wore when she worked at Holeproof and how there were no required uniforms.

Stoddart describes how her employeers wanted the women workers to wear hair-nets.

Stoddart explains that there were no required uniforms in the factory.

On the Job - Uniform Requirements (Or Lack Thereof)