The first garment production in Winnipeg during the late 19th century served only the local market, with no exports to neighboring countries. This changed after 1900.
When Winnipeg became a major economic hub in Western Canada, its garment industry flourished. By then, the city employed over 160 workers in this sector. Many factories during that period were family-run businesses with small teams producing a variety of garments. More on edmonton1.one.
The Beginnings of Garment Production in Winnipeg
Garment manufacturers saw significant growth in sales despite global economic instability. Reflecting the conditions of the time, businesses were small-scale and often operated by newly arrived Jewish families. These families set up their operations in downtown Winnipeg, renting inexpensive spaces in vacant warehouses in the Exchange District.
World War II further increased demand for ready-made clothing and textiles, such as uniforms, tents, and other essential items.
After the war, Winnipeg’s garment industry gained global recognition. By the early 1960s, 15 new factories were established in the city. Modernization and expansion positioned Winnipeg as Canada’s leading producer of men’s apparel.
Despite competition from cheap imports, the garment industry continued to thrive. In 1960, Winnipeg’s garment factories employed approximately 6,500 people, making it the city’s second-largest employer of women.
The Arrival of Edmonton’s Great Western Garment (GWG) Factory in Winnipeg
In response to the thriving garment industry, Edmonton-based company GWG opened a sales office in Winnipeg in the early 1960s, managed by Neil Beaton. By 1964, the office was located on the fifth floor of a downtown shopping center.
In 1965, GWG signed a contract with the Winnipeg Pants Manufacturing Company, a local firm. For years, this company operated in a building on Jarvis Street in Winnipeg’s North End, a neighborhood traditionally home to immigrant families.
On March 2, 1967, Great Western Garment (Winnipeg) Limited was officially registered. That same year, GWG acquired Winnipeg Pants from Abraham Rich, who had been its vice-president and general manager. His son retained a portion of the business focused on producing jackets.
Workforce and Expansion
In 1969, a local newspaper announced the arrival of 400 women from the Philippines, recruited by the government to work in Winnipeg’s garment factories due to labor shortages. By 1974, GWG employed over 300 workers, making it the city’s largest garment factory. The factory gained recognition for producing popular branded jeans.
In 1977, the company purchased a large brick-and-concrete factory that previously housed a printing press. The facility was equipped with modern machinery and employed numerous seamstresses.
Closure of the Factory
The factory continued operating at the new location until the early 1980s, when local manager Ken Jones declared the facility outdated and unsuitable for expansion. Despite efforts by the community and provincial government to keep the factory running, it was shut down in 1984, leaving 500 workers unemployed.