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    The Great Western Garment Company (GWG) was established in 1919 in Edmonton, Alberta. It quickly became a major employer, employing over 1,000 workers by the 1920s. GWG survived the Great Depression by diversifying its product line. In its early decades, GWG pioneered new factory processes that made it one of the most highly engineered garment companies in the world, able to produce a pair of jeans in under 8 hours by the early 2000s. However, the company struggled in later decades, laying off many workers as production moved overseas. It ultimately closed its Edmonton plant in 2004.

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    The Great Western Garment Company (GWG) was established in 1919 in Edmonton, Alberta. It quickly became a major employer, employing over 1,000 workers by the 1920s. GWG survived the Great Depression by diversifying its product line. In its early decades, GWG pioneered new factory processes that made it one of the most highly engineered garment companies in the world, able to produce a pair of jeans in under 8 hours by the early 2000s. However, the company struggled in later decades, laying off many workers as production moved overseas. It ultimately closed its Edmonton plant in 2004.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    55 views4 pages

    GWG Research Questions

    Uploaded by

    api-463649666
    The Great Western Garment Company (GWG) was established in 1919 in Edmonton, Alberta. It quickly became a major employer, employing over 1,000 workers by the 1920s. GWG survived the Great Depression by diversifying its product line. In its early decades, GWG pioneered new factory processes that made it one of the most highly engineered garment companies in the world, able to produce a pair of jeans in under 8 hours by the early 2000s. However, the company struggled in later decades, laying off many workers as production moved overseas. It ultimately closed its Edmonton plant in 2004.

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    of 4

    Name: _________________________

    Economic Globalization – Case Study


    Introduction - Bum Jeans Ad

    Why have blue jeans been the single most popular item of clothing for decades almost
    worldwide?

    Do you think about where or how your jeans are made? Why or why not?

    Great Western Garments - Research Questions

    PART ONE
    When was the Great Western Garment Company (GWG) established?

    The company quickly became a significant employer of what group of people?

    How many workers did GWG employ in 1919? What did sales grow to in the early years?

    How did GWG survive throughout the Great Depression?


    Name: _________________________

    How did GWG celebrate its 25th Anniversary?

    PART TWO

    With the outbreak of World War II, what was the plant’s production dedicated to? What type of
    clothing were they manufacturing?

    How did GWG’s new factory compare to other garment factories in North America?

    What did the company do to counter restrictions against wearing blue jeans to school?

    What made GWG one of the most highly engineered companies in the world?

    By the time the plant closed in 2004, how long did it take to manufacture a pair of jeans?
    Name: _________________________

    PART THREE

    What company bought GWG in 1961?

    What was the purpose of GWG partnering with the provincial government and the Northern
    Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)?

    By 1984, how many workers had the GWG’s workforce declined by?

    What did Levi Strauss offer when GWG Edmonton plant closed in March 2004? Why was it
    ultimately not effective?

    What did Local 120 (the union for GWG workers) accomplish before 1917?

    What was invented in 1972 by the vice-president of GWG?


    Name: _________________________

    Reflection Questions

    Watch the video with the workers from GWG. How did the workers feel being laid off from their
    jobs? Why did they feel this way?

    Why was Great Western Garments an important and significant company in Canada? List three
    innovative things that GWG did:

    Edmonton Mayor Bill Smith said the decision to close the plant was “almost inevitable in the
    global economy.” Inevitable means certain to happen or unavoidable. Was the closure of the
    plant inevitable? Explain your reasoning.

    Would you pay more for a pair of jeans to ensure that the workers had more rights? Why or
    why not?

    Is the Great Western Garment Company an example of sustainable prosperity? Why or why
    not?

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