Watch Your Fingers!

Detailing events from the 1950s through the 1980s, this history outlines Alfred Gardner’s personal life and work in London’s East End textile industry. With humor and candor, Gardner describes the ins and outs of textile firms, including poor working conditions, design preparation, cloth cutting, specialized machines, commissions, deliveries, and payments. In addition, this witty and engaging narrative details Gardner’s interactions with coworkers, bosses, shop keepers, friends, lovers, vicars, and prostitutes. From a 14-year-old boy saving to buy a suit to becoming a garment business owner himself, Gardner confronts different aspects of a changing world and reflects upon those experiences in this memoir.