A textile company in Huddersfield has embarked on a new venture to support British tailoring.
Bradley-based fine cloth weaver C&J Antich & Sons has set up a commissioned suit-making service for British tailors under the English Tailoring Company brand.
The move is set to bring benefits to the Antich Group – enabling the group to weave fine worsted cloth from sheep’s wool as a raw to material to the manufacture of fine suits.
The aim is to provide UK tailors with a competitive all-UK alternative to outsourced overseas manufacture .
Chairman Chris Antich said: “We’re very proud to be able to offer this service to the tailors of England.
“Sending production overseas is becoming less attractive and now we can provide independent tailors with an alternative to foreign manufacture that carries many benefits.
“Our lead times are quicker for one, our cloth is superior, our production line is ‘greener’ for the environment and let’s not forget the positive implications that domestic production has for the UK economy.
“Domestic garment and textile manufacture was something that Britain was built on, but sadly it declined. However, our new venture, the English Tailoring Company, is a positive step in the reinvigoration of British manufacturing. And we hope to see other businesses trying to do the same.”
Mr Antich said keeping manufacturing in Britain was hugely important for the local and national economy, for securing jobs for local people and for keeping prices competitive and quality high.
Founded in 1989, C&J Antich & Sons has become a leading commission weaver, warper and mender in the Yorkshire fine worsted industry, producing the finest British worsted cloth for the world’s best known fashion brands.
Antich, now the largest worsted manufacturer in the UK, has annual turnover of £2.8m and employs about 90 people.
Production facilities at the Bradley site enable the firm to make 200 bespoke suits a month with a lead-time of just two to four weeks.
