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Until well into the 20th century, the garment trades were one of the largest employers in manufacturing in Canada. The decline of artisanal clothing trades over the middle of the 19th century led to a marked growth in outwork and deteriorating labor standards. As the garment trades became rife with sweating, a process conditioned by the structured inequalities of class and gender, they became a major source of wage labor for women. Only in the 20th century were steps taken that limited, but by no means ended, sweated labor in the garment industry. The impact of protective legislation has been slight; much more credit in the struggle against sweating has to be given to the industrial garment unions.