Expansión y crisis de la industria textil del rayón, 1925-1939

Abstract

This article analyzes the origin, growth and crisis of the rayon textile industry during the inter-war years. It assumes that the weaving industry arose as a result of the changes in fashion and the protection offered by the customs tariff in the mid-twenties. The weave production remarkably increased so that the local industry supplied more of 50% of the domestic consumption before 1929. Its expansion during the 1930s and the restrictions to imports stimulated the creation of rayon factories, owned by foreign firms. Our study states that the structure of this industry was different from other textile branches (wool and cotton) due to the absence of companies that undertook the complete cycle of production. On the other hand, a protectionist environment influenced the weaving industry, spreading a number of small domiciliary factories. Finally, the article studies the effects of the textile crisis of 1938 on this branch.