Viyella

We are pleased to announce that we will be stocking a range of Viyella shirt for autumn. Viyella has come a long way from pioneering fabric to creating an impeccable range of men's clothing from shirts to knitwear.

1784

Henry Hollins and four friends, all businessmen, purchased Pleasley Forge on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire borders and built a cotton spinning mill in order to enter the yarn trade. The company was amongst the first to recognise the potential of mechanism, inspired by the newly invented textile industry.

1894

The Viyella name was registered, named after the valley in which the Via Gelia Mill was situated, Vi Jella. It rapidly became the most famous and coveted cloth in the world, renowned for its durability and softness and the remarkable way the fabric improved with age. It was the first fabric to be branded, a highly innovative idea at the time. Overseas markets particularly the English speaking countries were supplied with cloth for the first time and the very 'Englishness' of Viyella assured the company of international sales from the outset.

1960

The company received the ultimate accolade and was awarded the Queens Royal Warrant. The separate fabric division sold fabrics to an expanding home sewing sector with the consumer buying fabric by the yard, as well as to garment manufacturers.

1984

The bicentennial of the Viyella brand, on October 5th 1984 saw a spectacular event staged at the Goldsmiths Hall in the brands honour. The BBC devoted prime time television to the occasion. The events theme of Viyella - now - then - forever was continued in a year long-world advertising campaign.