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Museum of Mataró. Can Marfà Knit Fabric

Area 4. The industrialisation of knit fabric

View of the factory space, c. first quarter 20th century. Photo by Eusebi Escarpenter - Museu de Mataró.

View of the factory space, c. first quarter 20th century. Photo by Eusebi Escarpenter - Museu de Mataró.

During the 19th century, Catalonia experienced major economic and social transformations resulting from the shift from traditional manufactures to modern industry. The triumph of the mechanisation of the knit fabric industry gained ground between 1870 and 1890. This entailed a clear tendency towards the concentration of production in large-scale architectural spaces, namely factories, which could house a large number of looms and take advantage of the ability to power the machinery using steam energy.

A large number of factors converged in the Catalan industry: technological advances, cheap labour and the possibility of commercialising the goods in both the internal and external markets.

The business owners of Mataró were key players in a determined push for investment in the knit fabric industry, which translated into the creation of factories, a concern with keeping the technology up to date and an increase in production, as well as the export of their products. The consolidation of the knit fabric sector fostered the emergency of auxiliary industries as well, including companies specialising in dyes, packaging, transports, construction and machine repair.

OBJECTS

<p>Set of circular looms, 1930. Tallers J. Roure (Matar&oacute;).&nbsp;Museum of Matar&oacute;. Can Marf&agrave; Knit Fabric.</p>

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Set of circular looms
Set of circular looms
<p>Set of furniture,&nbsp;1880. Josep Arenas Factory.&nbsp;Museum of Matar&oacute;. Can Marf&agrave; Knit Fabric.</p>

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Set of furniture
Set of furniture
<p>Women&rsquo;s undershirt and petticoat set, first quarter of the 20th century (Matar&oacute;). Photo by Eusebi Escarpenter.&nbsp;Museum of Matar&oacute;. Can Marf&agrave; Knit Fabric.</p>

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Undershirt and petticoat
Undershirt and petticoat
<p>Sewing stand, first half of the 20th century. Commercialised by the subsidiary of the Wertheim company in Barcelona, called La R&aacute;pida S.A.&nbsp;Museum of Matar&oacute;. Can Marf&agrave; Knit Fabric.</p>

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Sewing stand
Sewing stand
<p>Workers from the fabrics section, 1910. Hijos de Antonio Escub&oacute;s Yarn and Fabric Factory (Matar&oacute;). Archive of images from the Jaume Vilaseca Foundation.</p>
Workers from the fabrics secti
Workers from the fabrics section
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