The Worshipful Company of Weavers has published a new book, The Weaver's Trade: 900 Years from Handloom to Hi-Tech, to celebrate its 900th anniversary.
From medieval handlooms to the machinery of the Industrial Revolution, the book traces how centuries of skill, innovation and adaptability have sustained British textiles. While the 20th century brought real challenges, today’s family firms, heritage brands and specialist manufacturers show that weaving in Britain is not a story of decline, but one of renewal and evolution.
Drawing on the voices of modern weavers, educators and industry leaders, The Weaver’s Trade demonstrates why textiles remain vital to Britain’s culture, economy, and future.
The book features a number of UKFT's members including AW Hainsworth, Sudbury Silk Mills, Lochcarron of Scotland and more, as well as a foreword by UKFT's President HRH The Princess Royal.
She writes: "The textile and fashion industries of the United Kingdom represent a remarkable continuity of skill, ingenuity and enterprise. They are industries shaped not only by technological progress, but by generations of individuals whose knowledge, discipline and commitment have sustained them through periods of profound change...
"As president of the UK Fashion & Textile Association, I have had the privilege of seeing at first hand the dedication of those working across the industry - from designers and manufacturers to educators and apprentices. Their work demonstrates that quality, sustainability and commercial success are most enduring when they are built upon a strong foundation of craft. I know because I am still wearing the results of their work, some of it nearly 50 years old!...
"I hope that this book will deepen appreciation for the expertise that underpins woven textiles and encourage continued support for the people and processes that ensure these skills remain an active and valued part of our national life."
