Lush rolling hills, rugged windswept moors, picturesque quaint villages, and rich industrial culture. Welcome to West Yorkshire. Once home to the leading manufacturers of woollen and worsted textiles in the world, the county has been a synonym for fine fabric making since well before the advent of the Industrial Revolution.

Two migrations seeded the beginning of the district’s fortune. In the 14th century, King Edward III promoted the settlement within the kingdom of Flemish clothmakers with the aim to educate and instruct the local craftsmen. Almost 400 years later, the arrival in England of Huguenots weavers – French Protestant refugees fleeing religious persecution – reinforced the British textile industry. However, new mechanical innovations such as the steam engine, combined with access to natural resources, such as the Pennine Waterways and Yorkshire coal mines, allowed the boom of the so-called Heavy Woollen District, which counted many individual mills in the mid-19th century.

The region, including towns such as Dewsbury, Batley, Morley and Ossett, soon became famous for shoddy and mungo, upcycled cloths manufactured using wool waste. After a peak, however, the 20th century brought new challenges: the rise of synthetic fabrics and foreign competition marked a period of decline.

Nevertheless, the skilled craftsmanship and the technical know-how – together with the soft Pennine water – still set West Yorkshire apart. Mindful of this legacy of excellence, Joshua Ellis has kept the spotlight on the area since 1767. Based in the small market town of Batley, between Bradford and Leeds, the company started as a clothier and then diversified into woollen textile making, supplying among others Burberry, Chanel and Bottega Veneta.

With over 250 years of history, Joshua Ellis today offers luxury fabrics and exceptional woven cashmere accessories, including scarves, stoles and throws, which are exported to over 23 countries. Each piece of fabric – cashmere, Escorial® wool, lambswool and camel hair – undergoes 21 different processes before being ready for sale. The local and loyal workforce of around 60 employees is certainly one of the keys to the success of the historic fabric mill.

Classic ribbed cashmere beanie, £65 and cashmere gloves, £40. Both Joshua Ellis

Although Yorkshire heritage is deeply ingrained in everything Joshua Ellis creates, the brand has developed an interest in revisiting timeless pieces with a playful twist. For AW22, the 100 per cent Made in Britain label has gone flashy, offering fluoro capsule collections. Beanies, scarves, gloves and socks come in an energetic colour palette: lime, yellow, orange and bright pink revitalise classic designs in pure cashmere. ‘Being bold is our recommendation for autumn/winter 22!’ says Alex Hogarth, sales manager at Joshua Ellis. ‘Colour is back and we couldn’t be any more delighted. The juxtaposition between the soft quintessential cashmere and the fun bold fluoro shades in modern styles really rejuvenates our collections.’

While being known for its light, silky soft and warm feel, cashmere offers high durability and a comfortable natural stretch. But where this fabric is concerned, Joshua Ellis’s attention to detail starts well ahead of the work in the mill. Raw cashmere is sourced only from trusted Chinese and Mongolian farmers and processors, which are regularly visited to guarantee responsible and sustainable production. The cashmere yarn is spun, coloured, and crafted off the banks of Loch Leven by Scottish experts Todd & Duncan.

Moreover, Joshua Ellis is a Gold member of the SFA (Sustainable Fibre Alliance). Merging an extensive historical background, technology, innovation and sustainability, Joshua Ellis weaves the storyline for its future.

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