In celebration of Textile Month, we are screening two episodes of Professions in Focus from the Wende’s film collection. In the mid-1950s, the GDR prioritized conservative and functional design over the kind of fashionable textiles that were popular in the West. These two East German educational films from the Wende collection outline specializations within the fields of textile technology and clothing work. Professions in Focus does not glamorize the work, although some of the footage of the machinery can be mesmerizing. It describes potential challenges within the field using a touch of humor. The films also provide evidence for how gendered textile work was; as the narration states, the profession is especially suitable for girls. “They need less physical strength, but instead an almost artistic dexterity. So if you have two left hands, you should not pursue this profession.” As a clothing worker, you might only find male colleagues doing the heavy labor of the ironing department.

Both episodes are free to watch via Vimeo.

—

Virtual Film Picks are inspired by the in-person Friday Night Films at the Wende program series. This selection is part of a curated list of weekly movie suggestions that can be watched at home, in conjunction with #WendeOnline.