A Visit to Halley Stevensons to Find out How Waxed Fabrics are Made
Come with me on a tour of the Halley Stevensons mill in Dundee, where I’m shown around the mill by production director Billy and sales administrator Ria. Halley Stevensons has been making fabric in Dundee since 1864. It started out as a jute mill and is now the last textile mill of its kind in a city that was once full of them. Today it’s known around the world for its waxed cotton, supplying brands including Barbour and shipping to over 50 countries. We follow the fabric all the way through the mill, from the raw loom state cotton arriving on 500 metre rolls to the final inspection, where every metre is checked by hand. In this episode you'll discover: The history of textiles in the Dundee area and why Halley Stavensons have survived. All of the processes the fabric goes through to transform it from it's raw state to Halley Stevensons' iconic weatherproof fabrics How the business is becoming more sustainable and is the first mill of its kind to be Bluesign certified. Why waxed cotton jackets get handed down through generations making them a superb long term investment. If you care about UK manufacturing and how British mills are investing in the future, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done. About Halley Stevensons Halley Stevensons is a textile mill in Dundee, Scotland, specialising in waxed and coated cotton fabrics. All dyeing, waxing and finishing is done in house, with around 60 people working across the site. They work with brands of all sizes, with minimum orders starting from 100 metres. You can find Halley Stevensons at: Website: www.halleystevensons.co.uk Instagram: @halleystevensons Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
