Traditional cashmere manufacturer flies the flag for Yorkshire
HISTORIC CASHMERE manufacturer Joshua Ellis is flying the flag for Yorkshire manufacturing as it embarks on plans to expand its market and create new partnerships.
The traditional fibre merchants business, launched in Yorkshire in 1767, produces cashmere to design houses across the world. Clients include Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Celine.
It has its sights set on continued growth as it continues to create new partnerships and collaborations. Liz Harper, of Joshua Ellis said: “The plan is to continue to work with the top end brands and offer quality products. We are always actively looking for new clients and new products.
“We want to fly the flag for Yorkshire and I’m confident we can continue to strengthen our brand.”
Joshua Ellis is part of the SIL Holdings group, a Bradford-based group of textile businesses, operating more than 25 businesses – many based in Yorkshire. SIL Holdings has 250 employees with group turnover of £35m. Joshua Ellis, which has a turnover of £5m, was bought by SIL in 2008.
Joshua Ellis exports 90% of what it makes and operates from a 34,000 sq ft site in Grange Valley Road site, Batley.
The exports market continues to be a big growth area for the business.
“There are opportunities for us in the Far East. We’re having a go in Columbia at the moment but we are working to find the customers who want bespoke work to take the business forward,” Harper added.
Harper said the business projects growth in turnover as it continues tapping into more countries.
As well as its cloth being spotted on the catwalks of London, Paris, New York and Milan, Joshua Ellis, which has a team of 50, has also made its mark on the interiors industry. It has supplied cloth for designer apartment cinema rooms in New York and is collaborating on an exclusive fabric collection with North Yorkshire designer Carolyn Parker. Joshua Ellis has also made throws and fabrics for manufacturers of luxury beds, made to measure beds and luxury mattresses Savoir Beds.
