The Tenement Museum is located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and is a national historic site. The museum was home to about 15,000 people, most who were immigrants. Two tenant’s room display everyday living with families of an average of five to seven kids. It was interesting to see how a 350 square feet apartment could hold a family of seven and a manufacturing facility. The family would have to be innovative and find sleeping arrangements for the entire family even if that meant sleeping on the floor or on the outside stairwell. The extravagant garments would be created inside the home for the upper class women. I think the Tenement Museum is so important to the fashion industry because it is a reflection of the industry’s history from immigrants and sweatshops. This experience applies to my future career because I have a better understanding of how fashion production got started in New York and a better understanding of why we have the labor laws we have.
New York Study Tour 