Member Article

Yorkshire suit from Bradford textile manufacturer goes international

Bradford-based textile firm Clissolds has manufactured a new fabric that is appealing to customers worldwide.

Apparently already popular with Savile Row tailors, customers as far away as India and China have bought lengths of the cloth to be made up in their home nation or ordered suits from Yorkshire tailors.

Chair of the Yorkshire Society, Canon Keith Madeley showed his own suit off at the launch at the House of Commons in London where it was backed by Bradford East LibDem MP, David Ward.

He said: “With more and more consumers wanting to know the provenance of the goods they buy, it is only right that we fanfare the cloths we make here in Yorkshire.”

David Ward MP said: “It really has revolutionised high end men’s tailoring and given the Yorkshire textile industry a welcome shot in the arm.

“The unveiling of the Yorkshire Suit in Parliament is a fantastic statement that textile manufacturing is still alive and well in this country. The weaving sheds of Yorkshire are busier now then they have been for many years.

“With increasing demand for high-end textiles from across the world especially in emerging markets like India and China, textile manufacturing is certainly on the up, bringing much needed investment and more jobs to Yorkshire.

“There is much more we can still do to help promote reshoring of textile manufacturing in this country so I will be working with the APPG for Textile Manufacturing and colleagues in the industry to make sure we are doing all we can to help this vital sector to once again become the pride of Yorkshire and the wider country.”

A new weave with the word ‘Yorkshire’ shot through the fabric celebrates Exporting Week and was supported by UKTI who are keen to encourage even more British businesses to go for growth through international sales.

With international support and support from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Textile Manufacturing Clissolds are optimistic for further growth overseas and in the UK.

Yorkshire women MPs including Rosie Winterton and Meg Munn have had suits made up in the fabric.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .