Founded in 1767 originally as clothiers, in Batley Carr Mills the company expanded into heavy woollen textile manufacturing in the late 18th century through a merger of local businesses. The Ellis family played a pivotal role in its founding, and it wasn’t until the 1830s that the company adopted the name Joshua Ellis & Co Ltd.

For over 250 years, Joshua Ellis has been synonymous with exceptional, luxurious fabrics. Now part of The SIL Group, the company remains family owned, staying true to its core philosophy: to create the highest quality fabrics using only the finest natural fibres.

Every step of the manufacturing process, from sourcing raw materials to creating the finished product, takes place in Yorkshire, the historic heart of woollen textile production.

Although the company moved from its original mill buildings in 2004, Joshua Ellis continues to honour its legacy while evolving to meet the demands of the modern textile industry.

Once woven on our own looms, our signature ripple finish is achieved through a unique technique that involves milling with soft Pennine water, followed by a delicate brushing process using natural teasels. This precise method teases out the fabric’s natural sheen, giving it the iridescent quality that defines premium cashmere.

Our Elysian duffle fabric, named for its exceptional texture, is truly unique, crafted from carefully selected wool that strikes the balance between coarseness and softness. Woven in a complex triple-cloth structure, weft floats create the distinctive texture, and like corduroy and velvet the pile is formed by breaking rather than cutting the floats. After milling and brushing, the fabric undergoes 15 finishing processes, making it one of Joshua Ellis’s most labour-intensive products. 

Our double-face cashmere fabric is a staple, expertly crafted with the precision and skill of our designers. Woven from two layers of cashmere fabric on our specialised looms, each layer is intricately designed with a different colour or texture. This results in a fabric where both sides are finished to perfection, making each face of the fabric equally refined and luxurious.

Throughout the whole production process from design to yarn spinning, weaving, finishing and final inspection, no other textile manufacturer has become synonymous with cashmere, and camel hair earning us an enviable reputation among the fashion houses of the world.