British Made Clothing: News, Stories & Industry Insights
This is the UK’s dedicated feed of news from clothing and footwear brands that manufacture here. We gather collection launches, factory and mill stories, and industry coverage from brand blogs, RSS feeds and a handful of trusted sources, then publish it in one place.
Did you know...
For over 50 years John Partridge has been using waxed cotton.
From the heavyweight traditional beeswax and linseed wax that left a coating on your hand to modern hybrid’s and new technologies. It’s safe to say a fair share of waxed cotton has travelled through our factory doors.
But we have never really talked about where we actually get our waxed cotton from. We have used many wonderful suppliers throughout the years and have built up a special relationship with the world renowned Scottish manufacturer, Halley Stevensons.
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Who is Halley Stevensons?
Established in 1864
Since 1864, Halley Stevensons have become the 'world’s leading manufacturers and innovators in waxed and weatherproofed fabrics.'
'With over a 150 years of experience, we create many thousands of meters of waxed cotton every year, with each roll produced to custom specifications. The beauty of waxed cotton is its durability and longevity, it is built to last.'
- halleystevensons.co.uk
Made in Dundee, Scotland
More than just a fabric manufacturer, Halley's lives and breathes the Scottish heritage and ancestry of waxed cotton. From the Baltic Works factory in Dundee, Scotland Halley’s produce the highest quality waxed cotton specialising in both traditional methods and innovative new technologies.
The concept of waxed cotton was originally developed in the early 15th century by sailors. Scottish North Sea herring fleets operating from east coast ports began treating flax sailcloth with fish oils and grease in an attempt to water proof their sails. The east coast Scottish textile manufacturers, many of who had their own fleets of sailing ships, would bring in linen and flax from the Baltic’s, hence our “Baltic Works”.
- halleystevensons.co.uk
Innovation and Sustainability
Halley's are always leading the way with innovative techniques plus they regularly build bespoke machinery to produce specialist fabric you can't get anywhere else.
Halley's use 'responsibly sourced cotton combined with low impact manufacturing to help make waxed cotton a sustainable choice. Garments can be proofed to keep up performance and protection levels, ensuring they last for many years.'
Waxes and oils are naturally occurring substances found in leaves, bean/seed coverings, animal furs and feathers. It is natures protection against the elements. Waxed garments can be regularly reproofed to maintain performance for many years, making them uniquely sustainable. Our waxes are fully biodegradable.
- halleystevensons.co.uk
A Glimpse at our iconic Halley's Wax Collection...
8oz Sage Waxed CottonA true classic. With traditional silk wax finish and country heritage sage green this is a fabric we have been using for over 50 years.
4oz Dry Waxed CottonWith innovative technology, Halley's dry waxed cotton features all the benefits of traditional wax but with a matte, dry finish.Our most recent dry wax jacket is featured in our ladies Derby Cape.
6oz Patterned Waxed CottonFor many years we have designed with printed waxed cotton, especially timeless tartan checks. From Hunter Check to classic Blackwatch Tartan each patterned wax is complete with a traditional silk wax finish.
*Photography sourced from John Partridge and halleystevensons.co.uk
A lightweight and water resistant luxury layer that you can throw over any outfit, we invite you to take a closer look at our Ladies Wax Derby Cape.
DESIGN
When designing the Derby cape we became inspired by the British festival scene. Muddy fields, live music and a fuss-free style.
Make it your piece of history...
There is something special about owning a garment for many years that you have taken to festivals all over the country. This cape has been designed to be a item you will keep year after year making the most wonderful memories come rain or shine.
FEATURES
Universal one size fitWeatherproof dry waxed cotton LightweightBurgundy bindingZip neck fasteningFront hand pockets
Attached hood
Back Vent
Gold Partridge bird pin
MADE IN ENGLAND
From start to finish we source, design and make this beautiful wax cape at our own factory in Staffordshire, England.
Available in two dry waxed cotton finishes; Burnt Sand or Khaki.
Other colours will be launching soon.
From handcrafted men’s Oxford shoes to the best monk strap shoes in the business, which style of men’s smart shoes from Percy Stride do you like the best?
If you’re a gentleman who likes to make a distinguished impression, then you’ll love our British-made men’s smart shoes.
Handcrafted in the highly prestigious NPS Factory in Northampton using the finest materials and carefully packaged with love, each pair epitomises true quality. Find out why our range is the one to watch!
We wanted to give y
Take the stress out of your festival packing with our vintage festival clothing guide for men.
Whether you’re attending Goodwood Revival, Salon Privé or another brilliant festival, no fine gentleman should sacrifice his style for comfort.
You won’t find any waterproof ponchos or loungewear in this men’s vintage festival clothing guide.
No good sir, every garment listed is an out and out investment piece straight out of the modern-day gentleman’s fashion textbook. Prepare to be amazed and inspire
This week we were pleasantly surprised to receive an email saying that we have been shortlisted for the Made in the UK Award category at the 2021 Great British Entrepreneur Awards for the North West and Yorkshire & The Humber region! With over 4,800 entries and a small cohort selected for the shortlist, it’s humb
The first generation of the Dundee Raincoat, designed and made by Dundee-based slow fashion brand KerrieAldo, flew off our shelves. So, we're excited to be launching a second edition in brand new mustard and charcoal colourways, with an updated design for the sunnier months.
Handcrafted by indepen
The John Partridge classic country quilt is one of our most popular transitional jackets.
With an authentic heritage, this timeless collection consists of the Mens Rag quilted jacket and gilet, plus the Ladies Moorland quilted jacket and gilet.
DESIGN
The John Partridge Quilt has been a design we have re-invented and carried through since the 1960's.
With a classic fit this jacket is comfortable and flattering without being too fitted and makes popping over any outfit a joy.
As a style we bring back year after year we have kept true to the classic diamond quilt pattern with a cord collar and binding. Refreshing this design we introduce seasonal colour variations and fabrics but at its heart, the jacket remains a timeless classic country style.
FEATURES
2
About our colour palette, the inspiration behind it and how it has evolved over the past 8 years since I launched the knitwear business. Colours I choose are the most personal part of design process. The biggest change was when we moved from London to Margate. The palette is now much warmer muted colours of ochre beige
Amongst the challenges, stresses and sadness, Covid-19 brought us a surprising amount of genuinely meaningful things: we were able to get outside more to boost our well-being and slow down the pace of life, think about what was important to us as a brand, and focus on our supply chain (visiting the awesome Amy in the
"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer." - F. Scott Fitzgerald Today is the Summer Solstice, marking the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere occurring when
While missing all our International visitors to St. James's we have greatly enjoyed seeing our London and UK customers again in the last few months and the shop has been as social as it has ever been. There is no doubt that most people are dressing more casually even in our part of the City and seeking quality, craftsm
We are so pleased to be able to introduce you to our new baby blankets ! Made from soft to the skin 100% Merino Lambswool they are a warm and comforting addition to the Hettie family and any child's bed . We have made them in a pretty diamond design in colours of pink and blue. A stunning gift for any new parents and their newborn
National Sewing Machine Day
Today we celebrate our love and passion for all things sewing.
Some of our much loved machines have been with us for over 40 years and still work a treat today.
With a rather impressive collection of industrial sewing machines at our factory each machinist has their favourite.
Here are just a couple of the models we use on each of our Partridge jackets...
Classic Lockstitch Machines
Our classic lockstitch machines are used for many components of production. Fast, reliable and durable we have a few favourites when it comes to industrial sewing machines...
Waxed cotton is a more specialist material and requires smooth and durable machines. Whenever we sew with waxed cotton we must use specialist needles and coated threads.
Juki DLN-5410N
Mitzubishi LT2-2230
Brother DB2-B737-413
A Vintage Must Have
The Reece 101 'The Iron Duke'
As one of the most sought after machines and best button hole machines out there, our Reece 101 has been a part of the team for over 40 years!
With sewing speeds up to 1600 SPM, on average this Reece can produce 3000 Buttonholes in an 8 hour shift!
This automatic, two-thread chain stitch buttonhole machine is for creating keyhole shaped buttonholes, in garments such as jeans, rainwear, suits, trousers, work-wear and coats etc.
The Newbie in town
MMS Button Fuse Solo
One of the newest additions to our factory is the MMS button fuse wrapping machine. A wonderful modern machine that we use for many of our products including shirts and polos.
Enjoy two editions of the ever popular Summer Arts Market where you can find stalls from over 50 independent artists, designers and makers including COCOOVE ,in the magnificent surroundings of Liverpool Cathedral.
Alec Farmer from Trakke Bags It was never meant to be a business pushing boundaries in outdoor equipment or one setting a blue-print for the future of the modern British factory. But Alec Farmer’s university side project has slowly become one of the worlds most talked about British urban/outdoor crossover brands. Ale
The right accessories can be used to enhance any outfit and with summer quickly approaching, it is time to get your hands on some of the best accessories for women according to this season’s trends.
Introducing Ottaway Style X Benson & Clegg, our newest capsule collection for SS21 that draws inspiration from the style icons of the 1960's, an era when men and women looked effortlessly glamorous, whether enjoying an espresso poolside at Hotel Du Cap, or sipping aperitifs on the Amalfi Coast. With garments crafte
Choosing a new bag can be a tricky task - there is just so much to consider - this is why most people simply select a bag type based solely on the latest fashion trends or attempt to match other accessories. While coordinating your accessories and keeping up to date with new designs is essential to look well put together, to create the perfect look, we need to consider a whole lot more.
The Emporium holds a lot of the same ideals that we do, UK brands that manufacture here and products that are made to the highest quality possible. When they reached out to discuss having some of our ED-1 jeans in their store we knew it would be a perfect match.
For the inaugural exhibition in The Room on Davies Street, we have chosen to highlight the work of the British ceramic artist, Carl Koch. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, Koch's handmade ceramic artworks focus on process and artisanship, two aspects reflecting Turnbull's approach to shirt making we wished to reiterate visually.
Not our words - Love My Dress just featured us!What better way to lift your mood than checking out this photo shoot we helped to create last year at Somerley House with an amazing team of creatives?Click the link here to read more about everything that went into the day.Check out the film we made on the day:And a big shout out to the rest of the creative teamPhotography @katierogersphotographyVenue @somerleyweddings_eventsConcept, Styling @lunaandthelaneConcept, Hair & Makeup @leeodmuaFilm Dale
Honouring the Brands and Businesses that make out street the home of Gentleman’s Style, and the Pinnacle of British Craftmanship, by spotlighting your favourite Brands and the People behind them.
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