Musings from the Factory Floor

Spend enough time at J.A. Uniforms’ factory and you’ll become desensitized to sounds. Maybe it’s the constant vibration of undulating needles, emitting rhythmic fabric-piercing sounds. After all, the commercial sewing machine is a power tool of sorts, producing both white noise and vibrations.

Often competing with the sewing machine’s sound is the embroidery machine, the heads of which mimic the sound of a woodpecker on a tin roof. Though less relaxing, the sound grows on you. Eventually, it joins the ranks of white noises and becomes indistinguishable from surrounding sounds.

On the far side of the factory is the commercial ironing board. Though emitting steam with a formidable hiss, it’s still no match for the embroidery machine. The sound of fabric being cut with an electric blade is also no match.

Occasionally, a distinct squeal punctuates the air. It’s the sound of the automated overhead door being raised or lowered.

Listen closely and you can hear a worker humming, a faint sound that’s part of the factory-wide orchestra.

Not surprisingly, the factory is humming. And the abundant sounds, all in a day’s work, bear testimony to that.

-Xavier Dominicis