The notion of a global fashion industry is a product of the modern age. Prior to the mid- 19th century, most clothing was custom-made. It was handmade for individuals, either through home production or on order from dressmakers and tailors. By the beginning of the 20th century — with the rise of new technologies such as the sewing machine , the rise of global capitalism, the development of the factory system of production, and the proliferation of retail outlets such as department stores — clothing had increasingly come to be mass-produced in standard sizes and sold at fixed prices.