The visit recognises the important contribution that British textile manufacturing continues to make to the UK economy and celebrates the innovation, craftsmanship and skilled workforce behind Britain's leading woven label manufacturer.
As a family business with almost 40 years of experience, National Weaving manufactures woven labels, ribbons and branding products from it factory in Pembrokeshire. The company is committed to investing in British manufacturing, combining weaving expertise with modern technology and sustainable production methods.
The visit began with The Princess Royal meeting husband and wife owners Jake and Caroline in the History Room. Her Royal Highness learned about the origin of the company, which was founded when Caroline’s mother Christine ordered name tapes for her children, and they took 3 weeks to arrive. Christine’s husband bought her a loom, she learned to weave name tapes, and the rest is history.
The History Room, a new visitor and meeting space, showcases photographs and milestones from throughout the company’s history, examples of National Weaving’s products, and Christine Astley’s very first loom, which has been beautifully restored as a permanent exhibit.
Caroline and Jake’s niece, Jessica, was on hand to give a textile design demonstration in the office. Having worked in various departments over the past few years, she has settled into the design department, recently travelling to Switzerland to receive advanced training in label design. The demonstration involved showing how to analyse and design textile patterns of labels with a microscopic camera, as well as making designs from scratch that are ready to pass through to be woven.
Her Royal Highness was then led into the Weaving Room, where she met Head Weaving Technician Piotr, who has worked at National Weaving for almost 25 years, and General Manager Hugh, who oversees the day to day running of the factory.
They demonstrated the weaving process behind the company’s original product, the woven name tape, which has been offered on a same-day service since the company was founded.
The tour then continued to the Broadloom Department, where the majority of National Weaving’s designer labels are produced. Here, Her Royal Highness met Wei, who explained how the department’s four Müller rapier looms operate. Depending on production requirements, this area of the factory can weave between 50,000 and 100,000 labels in a single day.
Being led through to the Finishing Department, Her Royal Highness met Chloe, who demonstrated how the woven labels produced in the factory are carefully joined before being cut, folded and packed for dispatch to garment manufacturers across the UK.
Nicki then gave a demonstration of how the company’s name tapes are finished, before Jess showed how National Weaving’s latest product range, custom woven badges are made.
The tour concluded in the Broadloom Room, where the entire team had assembled to commemorate the occasion.
Caroline Astley said “It is such an honour to welcome Her Royal Highness to our factory. We are incredibly proud of our team and the craftsmanship that go into every product we make. Our thanks go to Her Royal Highness and UKFT for their continued support of British textile manufacturing and for making this visit possible."
To mark the occasion, Brydie, from Sales and Marketing, unveiled a commemorative plaque on the company’s new loom. Jake and Caroline Astley’s children then presented Her Royal Highness with a small gift.
Paul Alger MBE, Director of International Business at UKFT, said: “We are delighted that our President, Her Royal Highness, is returning to Wales and continuing to champion the skills, craftsmanship and people that make our textile industry so special.
“Her visit to National Weaving is a welcome opportunity to recognise the specialist expertise involved in label weaving and the important role that garment labelling plays in every finished product. A label is far more than a finishing detail. It creates a valuable connection between a brand and its consumer, communicating identity, quality and provenance.
“Visits such as this provide an important opportunity to celebrate the depth of expertise within our industry and the businesses that continue to invest in its future. We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness for her longstanding commitment to the UK textile sector and for the genuine interest she continues to show in its people, skills and heritage.”
