There were many shortages in Britain during the Second World War. Most everyday items were rationed; clothes, foodstuffs, fuel (heating oil, petrol, coal, coke). People learnt to 'make do and mend' when clothes wore out and became adept at improvising.
Clothes manufacture concentrated on making uniforms, the British Forces uniforms were made mainly of wool due to cotton having to be imported (remember this was before synthetic fibres).
New clothes for civilians were of a limited range and you needed clothing coupons from your ration book to buy them, so you had to choose wisely. The Women's Voluntary Service ran a clothing exchange, you were given points to use when you brought old clothes in.
The number of clothes coupons that were issued was reduced as the war progressed, please see the table below:
Clothes Rationing
Everyone was given a book of 66 coupons to use to buy new clothes for one year.
This was cut to 48 in 1942 and 36 in 1943. Each item of clothing cost a certain number of coupons.
Item
|
Men
|
Women
|
Children
|
|---|
Raincoat
|
16
|
15
|
11
|
Overcoat
|
7
|
7
|
4
|
Jacket
|
13
|
12
|
8
|
Shirt/Blouse
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
Jumper/Cardigan
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
Trousers
|
8
|
8
|
6
|
Shorts
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
Skirts
|
|
8
|
6
|
Boot/Shoes
|
7
|
5
|
3
|
Nightdress/Pyjamas
|
8
|
6
|
6
|
Underpants/Knickers/Vest
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
Socks/Stockings
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
