Wealth

From cloth for Buckingham Palace to new brand - Family business Hainsworth expands

By Rashmi Kumar

Textile family business Hainsworth, famous in the UK for supplying the cloth worn by Prince William at the royal wedding, is venturing into relatively uncharted territory despite being 228 years old. It is launching its own consumer brand, named Scarlet & Argent.

The new line, under the leadership of seventh-generation Tom Hainsworth, will focus on luxury throws, blankets and home accessories, the company said in a statement.

Yorkshire-based Hainsworth traces its roots back to 1783 when Abimelech Hainsworth first started a clothiers business. Now, it not only supplies fabric to fellow family-controlled Prada, but its cloth is used to make fine interiors for Buckingham Palace.

Scarlet & Argent will initially sell goods online before branching out into retail stores, as Hainsworth looks to up its presence in the UK – almost 20% of its current revenues come from exporting to China.

But its long legacy and association with royalty in the country will likely be its selling point. As Tom told the Daily Telegraph: “The history and heritage needs to come across in the [new] brand.”

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