We once lived in a most formal world.
Everyone knew their place in society.
The serfs acknowledged their role, and the power of the Lord of the Manor.
They sowed their crops and paid their taxes, often scraping out a meagre living with hungry mouths to feed.
Clothing was rudimentary, and hopefully warm enough and comfortable enough for harsh winter time.
Towns grew into cities, and artisans plied their trade, their skills being learnt over a few years, and their products in demand based upon their skills.
In offices, the office boy did as he was told, often dressed in ill-fitting clothes; his job was no less arduous than the serfs.
The clerks with their stiff starched collars, black jackets and shoes were constantly bent over manuscripts, writing scratchily with their quills.
The Industrial Revolution, and voyages of discovery made the UK the richest nation in the World.
Many took menial roles in the colonies, and some eagerly grasped that opportunity to make their way in life.
Trade flourished and the cities of the UK, ports in particular, boomed.
London, Manchester and Bristol grew and grew, the origins of modern day life were sewn.
The demand for everything new intensified.
Ship building found its era, with demand for ever more ships, coal mining sprang up in the North East, Midlands and South Wales, fuel for heavy industry being just one of its markets, timber from Scandinavia came into the ports of the North East and fortunes were made.
Textile mills produced the cloth, railways transported it everywhere.
The country was booming.
It couldn't last and didn't last.
Wars, overseas competition, there have been many factors, but the UK was established as a centre for financial trading, even though its Empire was gradually dismantled.
The City of London was the financial hub of the World.
The bowler hat brigade was here.
Formality remained for many a year and still remains in places but the new entrepreneur emerged.
His staff wore more brightly coloured garb and art company shoes, though there was still a structure to business life.
The USA led the way in breaking down formality both in the work place and society in general.
Imaginative entrepreneurs saw the potential market that American youth presented.
They still had to go to work, and many had jobs in multi national corporations, but they demanded more options than traditional formal clothing.
Art company shoes replaced the traditional style black leather, jackets with checks and stripes became an alternative to dark, plain suits.
Once the momentum started, it quickened.
A whole new world of business emerged.
Marketing experts were the catalyst and fashion sense was instilled in everyone.
Everyone knew their place in society.
The serfs acknowledged their role, and the power of the Lord of the Manor.
They sowed their crops and paid their taxes, often scraping out a meagre living with hungry mouths to feed.
Clothing was rudimentary, and hopefully warm enough and comfortable enough for harsh winter time.
Towns grew into cities, and artisans plied their trade, their skills being learnt over a few years, and their products in demand based upon their skills.
In offices, the office boy did as he was told, often dressed in ill-fitting clothes; his job was no less arduous than the serfs.
The clerks with their stiff starched collars, black jackets and shoes were constantly bent over manuscripts, writing scratchily with their quills.
The Industrial Revolution, and voyages of discovery made the UK the richest nation in the World.
Many took menial roles in the colonies, and some eagerly grasped that opportunity to make their way in life.
Trade flourished and the cities of the UK, ports in particular, boomed.
London, Manchester and Bristol grew and grew, the origins of modern day life were sewn.
The demand for everything new intensified.
Ship building found its era, with demand for ever more ships, coal mining sprang up in the North East, Midlands and South Wales, fuel for heavy industry being just one of its markets, timber from Scandinavia came into the ports of the North East and fortunes were made.
Textile mills produced the cloth, railways transported it everywhere.
The country was booming.
It couldn't last and didn't last.
Wars, overseas competition, there have been many factors, but the UK was established as a centre for financial trading, even though its Empire was gradually dismantled.
The City of London was the financial hub of the World.
The bowler hat brigade was here.
Formality remained for many a year and still remains in places but the new entrepreneur emerged.
His staff wore more brightly coloured garb and art company shoes, though there was still a structure to business life.
The USA led the way in breaking down formality both in the work place and society in general.
Imaginative entrepreneurs saw the potential market that American youth presented.
They still had to go to work, and many had jobs in multi national corporations, but they demanded more options than traditional formal clothing.
Art company shoes replaced the traditional style black leather, jackets with checks and stripes became an alternative to dark, plain suits.
Once the momentum started, it quickened.
A whole new world of business emerged.
Marketing experts were the catalyst and fashion sense was instilled in everyone.
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