tailoring factorys

[kelly]

my mother worked at prices tailoring factory on kirkstall road in the 30s and throughout the war .when she got married just before the war in 1939 her workmates bought her a lovely cutlery set .i still have it to this day unopened

[Uno Hoo]

My first ever job was at I J Dewhirst, 32 Kirkgate, which in 1961 was not a particularly salubrious part of the city centre. Dewhirst's claim to fame was (is) that Tom Spencer, general manager back in the 1890s, went into partnership with a market trader named Marks. The rest, as they say, is history. Dewhirst had its main tailoring factory in Driffield, but the top floor in Kirkgate was a tailoring factory, mainly making overalls - the sort that women wore for housework, or factory work.Dewhirst's main activity in Leeds was as wholesale drapers, which was the bit I worked in. It was a very paternalistic family-run regime, and took on mainly young men (I was 16) to learn the business with a view to becoming either sales reps or buyers. Its bread and butter was to supply the then numerous small shops, but as these started to decline the manufacturing side became more important. I left after 18 months, as engineering in Leeds seemed (then) to have a better future. Dewhirst later merged with Gillinson and moved out to Sweet St. Whether that side of the business survives, I don't know. Dewhirst went on to become a PLC supplying M & S and opened other factories in East and South Yorkshire. Dunno whether it still continues. There was a subsidiary called Turner, Virr & Co Ltd, whom I think remains in business in York Road. That used to supply contract clothing to institutions such as hospitals.The Kirkgate top floor was home to a lot of women workers, many of whom could give a young lad like me quite a hard time with their comments and questions. Broadened my horizons quite a bit!!!I was frequently sent out to Bellow Machine Co, Roberts Mart & Co, and Coates Patons to obtain supplies. I also learned to drive on their vehicles and improved my geography of Leeds no end by delivering to local customers. They also employed homeworkers for overalls production, most of whom lived in Micklefield, which I'd never heard of before, and to which I've never been since.

[Si]

I met Tim Dewhirst (of Dewhirst's) a few years ago on a fishing holiday in northern Scotland. A really nice chap. He knew the manufacturer of the suit I was wearing just by looking at it.    

[Uno Hoo]

Si wrote: I met Tim Dewhirst (of Dewhirst's) a few years ago on a fishing holiday in northern Scotland. A really nice chap. He knew the manufacturer of the suit I was wearing just by looking at it.     Never met Tim, presumably one of the sons of either Sandy or Michael Dewhirst, both of whom were nice chaps. As a result of my first post about Dewhirsts I read Sandy's obituary on the internet. It says a lot about him that his ethos was not primarily to make money, but rather to provide employment for as many people as possible.

[FLOJO]

kelly wrote: my mother worked at prices tailoring factory on kirkstall road in the 30s and throughout the war .when she got married just before the war in 1939 her workmates bought her a lovely cutlery set .i still have it to this day unopened My late mother-in-law also worked at Prices in the 40s she made has she called them vest (waistcoats) I think Prices became John Colliers,My uncle worked for years as along distance driver for them, and won lots of awards for his safe driving but sadly was killed by a truck running into him and and his cab was ablaze .

[jdbythesea]

I was following another lead (The Guiness neon sign) and stumbled across this one which caught my eye while looking for a March the Tailor link. Leeds, being the tailoring capital of the country, had plenty of clothing manufacturers and tailoring shops, most now gone of course.My mother worked at Price's (later John Collier) for many years and I tried to remember others that that would have been very familiar to her back in the 30s and up to the early 60s.Some I can recall are; March the Tailor (dress you well), Weaver to Wearer, Hepworths, Burtons, Sumries, Alexandre, Barrans/ Centaur, Dewhirsts and John Collier (the window to watch). In addition, there were countless other who were outworkers for the big guns. I seem to recall that, in town, around Belgrave Street and out along North Street there were some smaller one- or two- man operations. I suppose by the late 60s/early 70s the best years were over.You can buy a suit at Tesco now!

[raveydavey]

I've got an Alexandre suit - easily the best suit I've ever owned (not that it is a particularly long list!).The label states "Alexandre Savile Row" though, no mention of Leeds. I presume they are made elsewhere these days anyway?

[zip55]

My mam, dad, auntie & uncle all worked at Burton's at some stage in the early 50's. I'm pretty sure that's how my parents met.

[majorhoundii]

jdbythesea wrote: I was following another lead (The Guiness neon sign) and stumbled across this one which caught my eye while looking for a March the Tailor link. Leeds, being the tailoring capital of the country, had plenty of clothing manufacturers and tailoring shops, most now gone of course.My mother worked at Price's (later John Collier) for many years and I tried to remember others that that would have been very familiar to her back in the 30s and up to the early 60s.Some I can recall are; March the Tailor (dress you well), Weaver to Wearer, Hepworths, Burtons, Sumries, Alexandre, Barrans/ Centaur, Dewhirsts and John Collier (the window to watch). In addition, there were countless other who were outworkers for the big guns. I seem to recall that, in town, around Belgrave Street and out along North Street there were some smaller one- or two- man operations. I suppose by the late 60s/early 70s the best years were over.You can buy a suit at Tesco now! And seemingly on every corner in the city was a branch or one or the other of the above. Apparently they hung on to the branches to stop their rivals occupying the site. Either tailoring was very lucrative, or city centre rents were very cheap in the 50's and 60's

[BLAKEY]

It seems so long ago now that we used to go to one of the leading tailoring shops to be "measured for a new suit" - almost universally pronounced "sooot." Weeks later two or three fittings would be arranged until the new pride and joy was ready. I was always full of admiration for the folks who "measured us" - it was a very skilled job and involved a degree of psychology as well - "let your shoulders relax, you're standing too straight" etc etc. Another golden age which has disappeared, but on the hand I have to say that the advent of "short, medium and long" fittings for ready made jackets has been a boon for those of us with longer than average arms - although some folks are still often accused of being unable to reach into their pockets with theirs !!