Global Markets and Regional Industrialization: The Emergence of the Saxon Textile Industry, 1790–1914

L’economia della conoscenza: innovazione, produttività e crescita economica nei secoli XIII-XVIII / The knowledge economy: innovation, productivity and economic growth, 13th to 18th century

“…Previous studies have drawn the following conclusions about the Saxon textile regions: First, the industry's development differs from region to region even within a single territory. For example, according to Schäfer (2015), the textile industry in Saxony can be divided into the following six districts: (1) the southern Vogtland around the city of Plauen; (2) northwards from Reichenbach/Vogtland, including the Zwickau und Crimmitzschau Werdau areas; (3) Chemnitz and Glauchau; (4) Chemnitz and the western Erzgebirge; (5) the higher ranges of the Erzgebirge (lace making and the manufacture of Posamenten) and (6) southern Oberlausitz. Other textile industry areas were scattered in Kamenz, Bautzen, Bischofswerda and other regions (Schäfer 2015, 117-118).…”

“…The implementation of this policy could have resulted in the production of «high-quality» products in various industries but some re-searchers thought that improving the quality of textile goods at the beginning of industrialisation or introducing machinery in economically disadvantaged countries was not so difficult. However, as Schäfer (2015) mentions, it is «easier said than done». The government needed to properly assess the situation of the country when implementing a prize competition or any policy, using the principles of the industrial enlightenment.…”

Promotion of high-quality textiles by prize competitions during the Enlightenment in Saxony. From raw material to finished product manufacturing

“…Previous studies have drawn the following conclusions about the Saxon textile regions: First, the industry's development differs from region to region even within a single territory. For example, according to Schäfer (2015), the textile industry in Saxony can be divided into the following six districts: (1) the southern Vogtland around the city of Plauen; (2) northwards from Reichenbach/Vogtland, including the Zwickau und Crimmitzschau Werdau areas; (3) Chemnitz and Glauchau; (4) Chemnitz and the western Erzgebirge; (5) the higher ranges of the Erzgebirge (lace making and the manufacture of Posamenten) and ( 6) southern Oberlausitz. Other textile industry areas were scattered in Kamenz, Bautzen, Bischofswerda and other regions (Schäfer 2015, 117-118).…”

“…The implementation of this policy could have resulted in the production of «high-quality» products in various industries but some re-searchers thought that improving the quality of textile goods at the beginning of industrialisation or introducing machinery in economically disadvantaged countries was not so difficult. However, as Schäfer (2015) mentions, it is «easier said than done». The government needed to properly assess the situation of the country when implementing a prize competition or any policy, using the principles of the industrial enlightenment.…”

Cotton Matters. A Recognition and Comparison of the Cottonopolises in Central-Eastern Europe during the Industrial Revolution

“…In order to compete with state-supported competitors, the Chemnitz calico printers abstained from investing in costly machinery but instead switched to cloths with complicated patterns and higher-quality cloths. They aimed at finding handprinted articles often designed for regional tastes [24]. Non-German markets remained important for the sophisticated fabrics that the handloom weavers of the Chemnitz area had increasingly turned to after 1815.…”