{"id":3562,"date":"2025-02-17T08:06:06","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T14:06:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/?p=3562"},"modified":"2025-03-07T04:52:10","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T10:52:10","slug":"the-history-of-edmontons-gww-factory-a-leader-in-clothing-manufacturing-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/eternal-3562-the-history-of-edmontons-gww-factory-a-leader-in-clothing-manufacturing-technology","title":{"rendered":"The History of Edmonton\u2019s GWG Factory: A Leader in Clothing Manufacturing Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In early Edmonton, numerous factories stood out for their unique production technologies and global reach. One such factory was the Great Western Garment Company (GWG), which provided residents of Edmonton and beyond with stylish, high-quality clothing. Let\u2019s take a closer look at its history and impact. Read more on <a href=\"https:\/\/edmonton-future.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">edmonton-future<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ac98b652511f\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ac98b652511f\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/eternal-3562-the-history-of-edmontons-gww-factory-a-leader-in-clothing-manufacturing-technology\/#Founding_and_Expansion_of_the_Factory\" >Founding and Expansion of the Factory<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/eternal-3562-the-history-of-edmontons-gww-factory-a-leader-in-clothing-manufacturing-technology\/#The_Factory_During_the_Great_Depression_and_World_War_II\" >The Factory During the Great Depression and World War II<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/eternal-3562-the-history-of-edmontons-gww-factory-a-leader-in-clothing-manufacturing-technology\/#Major_Changes_and_Levis_Acquisition\" >Major Changes and Levi\u2019s Acquisition<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/eternal-3562-the-history-of-edmontons-gww-factory-a-leader-in-clothing-manufacturing-technology\/#Closure_of_the_Edmonton_Factory\" >Closure of the Edmonton Factory<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Founding_and_Expansion_of_the_Factory\"><\/span>Founding and Expansion of the Factory<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2025\/03\/ad_4nxfbjofrfrmb5kktjy53m8zjsmobfjotfz_-ikw6klohwkdka55ofxshsvidsstlg6mi7y2dhdoobjg7zok6yx1mbde9rcuptjyn3j_mvqgctpb2ohgn_vivwvhm6hzr472bmcljbqkey-fu0pszn3sklxnnjpum-phex.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>1911<\/strong>, Edmonton was thriving. Despite high real estate prices, new stores were rapidly opening across the city. <strong>Alexander C. Rutherford<\/strong>, Alberta\u2019s first premier, and <strong>Alfred Jackson<\/strong>, a city councilor and owner of the Alberta Hotel, firmly believed in Edmonton\u2019s future and founded the <strong>Great Western Garment Company<\/strong>. Their goal was to provide durable clothing for the province\u2019s workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few months later, <strong>seven employees<\/strong> established the <strong>United Garment Workers of America (UGWA) local organization<\/strong>, which quickly became a leading employer for women. At the time, job opportunities for women were scarce, especially for married women. By the end of its first year, GWG employed over <strong>100 workers<\/strong>. In <strong>1914<\/strong>, the factory relocated to Edmonton and expanded its workforce to <strong>150 operators<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Between <strong>1917 and 1953<\/strong>, the factory was located at the corner of <strong>97th Street and 103rd Avenue<\/strong>, housed in a former department store built in 1911. By <strong>1919<\/strong>, the company employed <strong>375 workers<\/strong>, under the leadership of <strong>C. Graham<\/strong>. In <strong>1925<\/strong>, investors funded a <strong>two-story addition<\/strong> to the north side of the factory, along with a <strong>fourth floor<\/strong> for the main building. By the <strong>late 1920s<\/strong>, GWG had expanded its operations to a second factory, increasing nationwide sales to <strong>$1.4 million<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Factory_During_the_Great_Depression_and_World_War_II\"><\/span>The Factory During the Great Depression and World War II<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2025\/03\/ad_4nxcjh7-vtzxjr4qvae23dij1p6c3perxe3jweccoekijwrtho78xpgslxb1hz1akw2caohzl5mnnuqd7036zw3abrqo028ujd0dlq6ylxowyqd7rjlmfyfydjttbjhvdyddoe0xaqakey-fu0pszn3sklxnnjpum-phex.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>GWG owed much of its success to <strong>Clarence Jaycox<\/strong>, who served as the company\u2019s director from <strong>1931 to 1941<\/strong>. He introduced <strong>an assembly line system<\/strong> and encouraged <strong>piece-rate wages<\/strong>, which allowed the company to remain profitable during the <strong>Great Depression<\/strong>. During this period, GWG produced <strong>over 700 different lines of clothing<\/strong>, including <strong>women\u2019s and youth apparel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>1935<\/strong>, with the economy showing signs of recovery, the company expanded its workforce from <strong>250 to 300 employees<\/strong>. By <strong>1936<\/strong>, as part of its <strong>25th-anniversary celebration<\/strong>, GWG committed to providing long-term employment for its workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the outbreak of <a href=\"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/uk\/eternal\/edmonton-v-chasy-drugoyi-svitovoyi-vijny\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>World War II<\/strong><\/a><strong> in 1939<\/strong>, <strong>two-thirds<\/strong> of GWG\u2019s production was dedicated to fulfilling <strong>government contracts<\/strong>. After <strong>C. Graham\u2019s passing in 1940<\/strong>, <strong>Clarence Jaycox<\/strong> took over as president. By <strong>1941<\/strong>, government contracts had reached <strong>$1 million<\/strong>, and the workforce had grown to <strong>500 employees<\/strong>. At the height of wartime production, GWG was manufacturing <strong>12,500 uniforms per week<\/strong>. In <strong>1942<\/strong>, a <strong>$125,000 two-story extension<\/strong> was added to the facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the early <strong>1950s<\/strong>, GWG relocated its operations to a larger facility on <strong>97th Street<\/strong>. The new <strong>100,000-square-foot<\/strong> factory included a <strong>70,000-square-foot sewing workshop<\/strong>, designed by architect <strong>Ralph Brownlee<\/strong>. This move established GWG as <strong>the largest garment factory in North America<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Major_Changes_and_Levis_Acquisition\"><\/span>Major Changes and Levi\u2019s Acquisition<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2025\/03\/ad_4nxcxahr8mgdek19jpowjk1v-y5hphfp31lzgsoghknvhhgx0674zlthhd8nx89uewpsf6xlxqrk8-q-6xong_7n-yqs5yqyaebkwot2v30ejrwvpxua3ocfcfx5jy2wm9y3mdgqp-wkey-fu0pszn3sklxnnjpum-phex.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>1958<\/strong>, following <strong>Clarence Jaycox\u2019s<\/strong> death, <strong>J. Godso<\/strong> from Toronto took over leadership. Under his management, GWG expanded its product line to include <strong>casual wear for the entire family<\/strong> and extended its distribution network across Canada. By <strong>1961<\/strong>, GWG apparel was sold by <strong>5,500 retailers<\/strong>. The company also continued to produce garments for popular brands such as <strong>Red Star, Texas Ranger, and Iron Man<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting in the <strong>1940s<\/strong>, GWG invested in <strong>engineers to streamline production<\/strong>. Under <strong>Jaycox\u2019s leadership<\/strong>, the factory became <strong>one of the world\u2019s most technologically advanced garment manufacturers<\/strong>, integrating new machinery and production techniques. By the <strong>1960s<\/strong>, GWG employed <strong>in-house engineers<\/strong> to optimize production efficiency, teaching workers how to minimize energy use and maximize output. Eventually, nearly all manufacturing processes were <strong>fully automated<\/strong>, reducing the time needed to produce a <strong>pair of jeans to just 7.5 minutes<\/strong> by the time the factory closed in <strong>2004<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>1961<\/strong>, <strong>Levi Strauss &amp; Co.<\/strong> acquired <strong>75%<\/strong> of GWG\u2019s shares. <strong>Peter and Walter Haas<\/strong> joined GWG\u2019s board of directors, but the company maintained <strong>independent management<\/strong> until <strong>1986<\/strong>. At its peak, GWG was one of Alberta\u2019s largest industrial employers, with <strong>950 operators working day and night shifts<\/strong>, increasing production by <strong>10%<\/strong>. Daily output rose from <strong>8,000 to 13,000 units<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>1965<\/strong>, GWG partnered with the <strong>Government of Alberta<\/strong> and the <strong>Northern Alberta Institute of Technology<\/strong> to train unemployed and low-income citizens. Trainees received a <strong>minimum wage<\/strong>, with <strong>half of their salary subsidized by the government<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By <strong>1971<\/strong>, GWG officially changed its name to <strong>GWG Limited<\/strong>, and in <strong>1972<\/strong>, Levi Strauss purchased the remaining shares. <strong>GWG became a subsidiary<\/strong>, maintaining Canadian management and its <strong>head office in Edmonton<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Closure_of_the_Edmonton_Factory\"><\/span>Closure of the Edmonton Factory<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By the early <strong>1980s<\/strong>, operations were shifting. In <strong>1982<\/strong>, <strong>Great Northern Apparel Inc.<\/strong> was formed, and <strong>50 Edmonton-based office workers were laid off<\/strong> as management moved to <strong>Toronto<\/strong>. In <strong>1984<\/strong>, additional job cuts followed as garment finishing operations moved to <strong>Brantford, Ontario<\/strong>. By <strong>1999<\/strong>, GWG\u2019s leadership considered <strong>closing the Edmonton factory<\/strong>, as the company now operated <strong>11 plants across North America<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, in <strong>March 2004<\/strong>, GWG <strong>shut down its Edmonton operations<\/strong>, leaving <strong>448 workers unemployed<\/strong>. This closure marked the <strong>end of an era<\/strong> for the city. Throughout its history, <strong>GWG was a pioneer in manufacturing innovations<\/strong>. In <strong>1917<\/strong>, its <strong>Local Union No. 120<\/strong> became the <strong>first garment workers&#8217; union in North America<\/strong> to implement an <strong>eight-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GWG also led in <strong>product innovation<\/strong>. In the <strong>1920s<\/strong>, it became <strong>the first Canadian company to use pre-shrunk denim<\/strong>. In <strong>1965<\/strong>, it introduced <strong>Nev\u2019R Press<\/strong>, the <strong>first permanently pressed pants<\/strong> in Canada. Then, in <strong>1972<\/strong>, GWG launched <strong>Scrubbies<\/strong>, the <strong>original pre-washed jeans<\/strong>, invented in Edmonton by <strong>Vice President of Merchandising Don Freeland<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>closure of GWG\u2019s Edmonton factory<\/strong> was a significant loss for the city, marking the end of a century-long legacy in <strong>innovative garment production<\/strong>. From its <strong>early roots in worker protection<\/strong> to its <strong>pioneering efforts in textile technology<\/strong>, GWG\u2019s influence extended beyond Edmonton, shaping Canada\u2019s garment industry. Though the factory is no longer in operation, its <strong>impact remains a key chapter in Edmonton\u2019s industrial history<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In early Edmonton, numerous factories stood out for their unique production technologies and global reach. One such factory was the Great Western Garment Company (GWG), which provided residents of Edmonton and beyond with stylish, high-quality clothing. Let\u2019s take a closer look at its history and impact. Read more on edmonton-future. Founding and Expansion of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":467,"featured_media":3543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[334],"tags":[2210,2236,2213,2212,2237,2220,2216,2238,2239,2240,2207,2241,2242,2208,2217],"moimportance":[33],"motype":[325],"moformat":[22],"class_list":{"0":"post-3562","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-engineering-solutions","8":"tag-dried-denim","9":"tag-edmonton-plant-en","10":"tag-edmonton-plant-closure","11":"tag-engineering-technology","12":"tag-enterprise-during-the-great-depression-and-world-war-ii-en","13":"tag-great-western-garment-company-3","14":"tag-history","15":"tag-industry-en","16":"tag-innovation-en","17":"tag-manufacturing-en","18":"tag-merchants","19":"tag-nevr-press-en","20":"tag-scrubbies-en","21":"tag-work","22":"tag-workers-clothing","23":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory","24":"motype-eternal","25":"moformat-longrid-korotka"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3562","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/467"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3562"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3562\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3588,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3562\/revisions\/3588"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3562"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=3562"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=3562"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=3562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}