At Hainsworth Signature Fabrics, we’re proud to continue our partnership with Community Clothing, a brand committed to high-quality, British-made clothing that supports sustainable manufacturing and local employment. Driven by their values, Community Clothing is on a mission to create and sustain skilled jobs in textiles in the UK. The results are ethically made products, high in quality and reasonable in price.
This collaboration highlights a shared dedication to craftsmanship, sustainability, and the future of British manufacturing.
History
Patrick Grant, founder of Community Clothing, is a renowned clothier, television presenter, and author. Growing up, Patrick wore garments made from natural wool and cotton, proudly bearing the labels ‘Made in Scotland’ or ‘Made in England.’ These pieces didn’t just stand the test of time – they improved with age, many still part of his wardrobe more than 30 years later.
In 2016 Patrick founded Community Clothing with a simple vision: to “make exceptional quality everyday clothes, make them from the best natural materials in fantastic British factories, and radically simplify the business model so that they can be sold at great value everyday prices.”
Product spotlights
Community Clothing have made no secret of their love for Yorkshire, and their love for wool as a natural fibre. They have used our Yorkshire-made woollen cloth in various projects and collaborated on custom blankets through our bespoke service. Below are some highlights:
Wool Peacoat
Community Clothing’s classic yet stylish naval-inspired wool peacoats are crafted from Hainsworth Melton, to be specific, our heavyweight 505g Melton. Each peacoat is cut and sewn in Blackburn, just a couple of hours away from where our mill is situated in Pudsey, Leeds.
“We are proud to use Hainsworth wool in our peacoats. Like many modern menswear staples, the peacoat was born out of practical necessity. Since the 1700s the style has been adopted by some of the world’s greatest naval institutions due to its hard-wearing nature. Originally created for the Dutch Navy, the name “peacoat” originated from the word “pije” which described coats made from coarse wool.” – Community Clothing
Pure Wool Striped Blanket
We also currently weave all of Community Clothing’s Pure Wool Striped Blankets; available in five beautiful colourways. These blankets were featured as ‘Patrick’s Pick’ on their website, and in 2023, we enjoyed welcoming the Community Clothing team to the mill to document the manufacturing process.
“My mother doesn’t believe in central heating. She likes to keep the house at a balmy 15 degrees. So if you want to survive the Christmas holidays in the icy North a good blanket is essential. Our fantastic thick pure wool blankets are super soft and fantastically warm, and they’re big. Big enough to tuck right up under my chin, and wrap over my feet.” – Patrick Grant, founder of Community Clothing
The Arthur Wool Chore Jacket
Community Clothing selected our 340gsm Hainsworth Melton to create the Arthur Wool Chore Jacket, a high-quality, collared piece that blends timeless style with everyday wearability. Favoured by Patrick Grant himself, the Arthur jacket takes inspiration from the classic donkey jacket, reimagined in a mid-weight Melton for a modern, refined silhouette.
“I’ve always had a fondness for the donkey jacket, simple, practical and durable, an unsung wardrobe staple. First worn by workers building the Manchester Ship Canal in the late 19th century it got its name from the ‘donkey’ engine, a small steam engine used to replace the work formerly done by horses or donkeys. Popular throughout the 20th century with everyone from miners to construction workers, they disappeared when hi-vis safety jackets took over.” – Patrick Grant, founder of Community Clothing
Patrick Grant visits the Hainsworth Mill
In October 2022, we welcomed Patrick and his team to the Hainsworth mill for a behind-the-scenes tour. This visit was documented in a video filmed during Wool Month in collaboration with The Campaign for Wool.
Summary
At Hainsworth and Community Clothing, environmental and social responsibility are at the forefront of what we do. By championing local production, our partnership not only supports skilled British textile workers but also helps reduce transportation-related emissions. Together, we’re working toward a better future for the industry – one rooted in quality, transparency, and community.
To learn more about Community Clothing, visit their website.