Make it British Visits Luxury Fabrics
Earlier this month, we were pleased to welcome Kate Hills, founder of Make it British, to Bradford as part of her mission to visit 100 UK manufacturers.
During her visit, Kate toured the Luxury Fabrics businesses based at Stanley Mills - William Halstead, John Foster, Kynoch of Scotland, and Joshua Ellis - gaining an insight into the craftsmanship, technical precision, and manufacturing expertise that continue to define British cloth production today.
Producing both woollen and worsted fabrics, the businesses produce luxury cloth for tailors, merchants, and fashion houses across international markets. The visit offered a closer look at the detail and discipline involved throughout production, from yarn preparation through to finished fabric.
A Closer Look at Cloth in Production
Throughout the tour, Kate explored several stages of cloth manufacturing, including yarn preparation, warping, and weaving.
Each stage demonstrated the precision required to achieve consistency across every fabric, from structure and weight to handle and drape. While modern machinery supports efficiency and accuracy, it is the depth of weaving knowledge and experience that continues to shape the character of the final cloth.
Luxury Fabrics reflects the long-established textile expertise associated with Yorkshire manufacturing, where traditional skills remain embedded alongside ongoing technical development. This balance allows fabrics to meet the demands of contemporary tailoring and fashion while retaining a distinctly British identity.
Archives as a Working Resource
A key part of the visit also focused on the role of archives within fabric development.
Historic cloth patterns, constructions, and weaving references continue to inform the design process, providing a foundation for new collections while maintaining continuity with the past. Rather than serving purely as historical reference, these archives help shape how fabrics are reinterpreted and refined for modern use.
Alongside this, ongoing development ensures collections continue to evolve in response to changing performance expectations, aesthetics, and market demands. It is this relationship between heritage and innovation that underpins much of British cloth manufacturing today.
Continuing British Manufacturing Expertise
The visit also highlighted the importance of maintaining weaving and manufacturing expertise within the UK textile industry.
British-made fabrics continue to be recognised internationally for their quality, consistency, and craftsmanship, built on generations of technical knowledge and practical experience. Preserving and developing these capabilities remains central to the long-term strength of the industry.
Kate’s mission to visit UK manufacturers continues to shine a light on the depth of skill that exists across the country today. We were delighted to welcome her to Luxury Fabrics and share an insight into the work, precision, and expertise behind premium British cloth.
