Welcome to HFW Huddersfield

HFW Huddersfield is the leading manufacturer and supplier of quality cloth incorporating names holding Royal warrants such as J & J Minnis and John G Hardy. Each are very important companies in the high-value suitings, dealing with all the top Italian, French and Japanese fashion houses such as Prada, Armani, Givenchy Kiton, Lanvin, Boss, Nina Ricci and Chanel, to name but a few.

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Hunt & Winterbotham
Cloth merchant Hunt & Winterbotham offers worsted and woollen cloths on a stock supported basis for everyone from Savile Row tailors to classic suit manufacturers and designers. The two trading names John G Hardy and J&J Minnis hold royal warrants for the supply of Balmoral Tweed to the Royal Household and are synonymous with English cloth of the finest quality. Cloths include Alsport country tweed, Fresco, English flannels, Super 100s Crown Classic, Super 120s and Cashmere suitings plus Venetians, Cavalry Twill and Whipcord in a wide variety of colours and weights.

The mill is still based in Kirkheaton, Huddersfield the heart of the Yorkshire textile trade from where the company enjoys an enviable reputation throughout the world with many of the world’s top bespoke designers. We can also be contacted through our London office at 62, Berwick Street, London W1.

This new service allows both trade and retail customers to buy cloth on line.
John G Hardy sells country style fabrics and sporting fabrics. J.& J. Minnis sell fabric for business suits in a classic English style.

Both John G Hardy and J & J Minnis sell fabric as cut lengths.
A short history of these companies is shown below. To buy cloth on line or to view our extensive range please click on the link shown above.

John G Hardy

Almost 100 years ago John G Hardy founded the company, which today holds the undisputed position of market leader for the supply of elegant country fabrics. The founder, being something of an eccentric gentleman, became well known for, having collected his fabric samples, returning to London with them stacked under his top hat. He was one of the first cloth merchants to visit the Scottish Highlands and Islands and claimed to have introduced Shetland and Harris Tweed cloths to the major markets of the world.

In 1929 the Duke of York, who was to become His Majesty King George VI, used a John G Hardy cloth for the regimental Tweed of the Brigade of Guards. He was the Colonel in Chief of the regiment and the cloth consisted of Black and White with Royal Blue and Crimson colouration.

The company is privileged to hold Royal Warrants, which were granted in the mid 1930s for the supply of Balmoral Tweed fabrics to the Royal Household.

By 1958 the company had acquired control of Milbank, Leaman and Company in the USA, subsequently changing the name of its American division to Milbank Hardy Inc.. Originally the company’s product base was predominately heavyweight Tweed fabrics and whilst today’s range still includes the world famous heavyweight Tweed ‘Alsport’, the only similarity to their predecessor’s line is the retention of a country theme with classic elegance.

For the discerning purchaser John G Hardy offers a vast array of lightweight trouserings and jacketings for all occasions. Based in Yorkshire, the heart of the UK textile industry, the company enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the world’s foremost cloth houses with its fabrics being sold in over 50 countries throughout the world.

Products

John G Hardy sell fabric by the metre for both Menswear and Ladieswear in a comprehensive range of fibres and fabrics a:
J & J Minnis

History records that J & J Minnis was founded in 1874 by Mr. James Egbert Minnis, the infant business being located at 40, Warwick Street, London W1. The following ten years saw the business relocate to larger premises at 37 Glasshouse Street, London W1 and also the partnership with Mr John Minnis being formed, thereby bringing a true definition to the company of J & J Minnis.

By 1901 London’s Savile Row was firmly established as the world’s most prestigious street for gentlemen’s clothing and during the early part of 1902 J & J Minnis had taken up residence at 16 Savile Row where they were to spend sixty four prosperous years.

In 1906 the company acquired a Russian Director as it developed a large trade with the Russian Imperial Court and, in particular, the tailors to the aristocracy. This trade flourished until the revolution of 1917.

By 1919 J & J Minnis was developing a growing reputation in Japan for its luxury fabrics and fine designs. It is widely believed that J & J Minnis was the first London cloth merchant to introduce Savile Row quality cloth into the Japanese market.

Significant sales also were being made throughout Scandanavia and North America with cloth orders from the USA actually commencing in 1884. More latterly these sales were handled by an associate, subsidiary company, Milbank, Leaman & Co. who were based in New York. Sales to the USA peaked in 1929 but then were influenced severely by the Stock Market crash of that year and the Great Depression which followed.

A business merger in 1969 saw the company inherit Royal Warrants, which were issued by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. These warrants had been granted to the business for the supply of fabrics to the Royal Estates since the 1930s.

Today J & J Minnis company retain a presence in London but are now based in Huddersfield, the home of the world’s finest woven fabrics. They have maintained their worldwide reputation as suppliers of the ultimate luxury cloths.

Products

J & J Minnis sell fabric by the metre (or fraction of a metre) for both Menswear and Ladieswear in the following fibres and fabrics:


Private Site

This section is for authorised users only. Please return to our main web site.

News

Martin Sons & Co. and John G Hardy will be exhibiting at the following trade exhibitions in 2006:

IDEA BIELLA
12-15th September, Milan
Viewing is by appointment only. To make an appointment, contact info@hfw-huddersfield.com