Zeb Pervaiz first stepped into a mill building as a youngster – spending time with his father and grandfather at the family firm.
After studying textiles and business at Huddersfield University and learning all he could about the production processes he has spearheaded the development of a company which has successfully combined the best of Huddersfield’s textile traditions and the latest state-of-the-art technology.
A move from Firth Street to new premises on St Thomas’ Road in Huddersfield provided Zeb with the scope to improve the production process and maximise efficiency.
He also increased investment – commissioning new dyeing machinery and a new finishing plant as well as increasing the firm’s capabilities in colour matching and fabric testing.
SKA Textiles does business with major names including the Arcadia group, Debenhams and M&S and has some of the most up-to-date equipment in the UK .
Its expertise in knitting, dyeing and finishing have enabled the firm to compete with imports on price, quality and speed as well as supplying special yarns for use in cars, planes, the health sector, sport and defence.
Zeb has also played a key role in Huddersfield’s property scene – last year developing the former Thatcher’s furniture store at Dundas Street to create Thread Works, a 40-bed en-suite development providing top-class student accommodation.
Zeb said: “This means a lot to me – Huddersfield-born, Huddersfield-educated and a Huddersfield graduate. We are a local family firm making the impossible possible. It is a boom time for us.
“We are working with the store groups and we offer them something no other company in the UK offers. We have just picked up a massive order for Wallis. We are going to get it through for them and the best thing is it will be made in Huddersfield.
“I always see my job as a hobby, not a chore. I put everything into SKA and I enjoy it.”
