Question

[rosiphelee]

I'm trying to settle on a profession for a character, and I'm beginning to suspect that the one I've chosen may mean different things in different parts of the world, which could create confusion.

So, to check, in your part of the world, what items would you expect a haberdasher to sell?

(I would expect buttons, ribbons and trimmings for dressmaking)

Addendum: Oh, and to make this useful for others, here are some of the mottos of the Livery Companies of London. I rather like the Makers of Playing Cards'.

Comments

[paantha.livejournal.com]

Buttons, beads, ribbons, trimmings. Possibly a little fancy wool. Maybe some how-to crafty books, depending upon how upmarket it is.

A more upmarket one, I'd expect a bit of fancy wool; ornate/unusual beads and buttons arranged about; fancy trimmings - that sort of thing.

A more lower-market one (say, like the little haberdashers you might find in a butter market / market hall) would be more: embroidery threads, cottons, functional buttons, ribbons, lace and then a lot of odd sewing-related things. Like hook-and-eye fasteners, poppers, needles, pins, replacment bra catches (yes), tassels for making curtain-ties, dressmaker's chalk and measuring tape ... maybe a little fabric.

[rosiphelee.livejournal.com]

*nods* That's what I'd expect. It's quite an interesting array of stock. I think there should be more haberdasher's shops in fantasy. ^_^

[wispywillow.livejournal.com]

I would expect ribbons and the like as well. I've heard the word before but I'm not sure if I've ever been posititive as to what it meant, but ribbons and things like that popped into my head even before I read that you expect the same things. ^_^

[rosiphelee.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's a relief. I'd hate to write the story and then have people coming back to me saying, "But that's not what haberdashers sell."

It's an interesting trade. There should be more of them in fantasy.