Community Clothing makes new range from 19th century mills

Fabric produced on 19th century Lancashire looms in one of the world’s oldest cotton mills, Quarry Bank in Cheshire, is being used to make a new range of clothing by celebrity tailor Patrick Grant.

The mastermind behind sustainable clothing brand, Community Clothing, he is also a judge on BBC TV’s The Great British Sewing Bee.

Now fabric made on machines at the National Trust’s Quarry Bank is being made into a woman’s shirt, shirt dress and a tote bag by Community Clothing.

The fabric is made to show visitors how the machines worked and to demonstrate what conditions would have been like for mill workers. Quarry Bank last produced cloth for the textile industry in 1959. The National Trust sells the patterned fabric in its Mill Yard Shop in metres for people to buy and as kitchen glass cloths, tea towels and drawstring bags.

National Trust staff have volunteered to model Patrick’s clothing at a photoshoot in the mill. Technical Demonstrators Julie Whitehouse, Caitlin Binks, Cheryl Pickerill and Rhyann Arthur were joined by Clare Brown, the Technical Demonstrator Manager.

Pictured above are Caitlin, Rhyann, Clare. Seated Julie (front) and Cheryl (behind).

Clare said: “We are the only National Trust mill making fabric and it is great that it is being turned into clothing that’s made to last.”

The Lancashire based star Patrick Grant added: “My mission is to make exceptional quality everyday clothes, out of the best natural materials. Using fabric produced on Quarry Bank’s heritage machines, and from scratch, is a perfect fit for us. It very much resonates with the theme of my new book, ‘Less’ and my mission to support incredible craftspeople and to encourage people to value things made well and with care.”

Community Clothing sell products that are made in factories in 48 towns and cities across the UK including 14 in Lancashire and Greater Manchester. The company aims to create and sustain skilled jobs in the UK’s textile manufacturing regions.