Member Article

International export growth leads to recognition for Yorkshire fashion textiles manufacturer

A Yorkshire textile manufacturer that produces fabric for some high profile fashion houses has been named top fashion and textile exporter at the UK Fashion and Textile Awards 2014.

Strong international sales at Bradford-based textile group Luxury Fabrics resulted in the company being presented with the Exporter Award at a red carpet ceremony at East London’s Tobacco Dock, hosted by ITV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Susanna Reid.

Luxury Fabrics owns world-famous cloth brands such as John Foster, William Halstead, Reid & Taylor and Charles Clayton.

The UK market accounts for less than five per cent of sales with the company’s fabric consistently appearing on the catwalks of Paris, New York and Milan.

David Gallimore, managing director of Luxury Fabrics, said: “Our businesses benefit from the craftsmanship, quality and expertise that has developed during generations of textile manufacturing in Yorkshire and this award recognises the fact that our continued commitment to innovation, training and excellence is keeping us at the forefront of global fashion manufacturing.”

“We are extremely proud that Yorkshire cloth from our factory is now exported to 23 different countries, with our main markets being in the Japan Far East, Italy and the United States and we are delighted to be showcasing Yorkshire’s textile heritage and the UK’s excellence in quality and design worldwide.

“We are also now trading actively in emerging markets across South America and China.”

Luxury Fabrics was one of three British brands up for the Exporter of the Year Award. The other finalists were Ariella and Penrose London.

John Miln, CEO of UKFT said: “We were inundated with entries for this year’s awards and we’re delighted to be able to celebrate with so many worthy winners.

“From young businesses just starting out on their journey, to iconic British fashion brands that have shaped the face of the industry, they’re all a testament to the fact that the UK is leading the way in fashion, textiles and design across the globe.”

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