BRITISH WOOLLEN FABRICS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27224, 16 December 1953, Page 2

BRITISH WOOLLEN FABRICS

Increased Popularity Abroad TWEEDS A PROFITABLE EXPORT According to representatives of the leading London fashion designers—now back in London after whirlwind. selling campaigns in the United States' —overseas buyers are asking for more j and more British-made woollens. The ; wools which won the Queen Mother’s; admiration at the recent Special Show- • ing of British-designed models carried out in British-made materials have opened up new markets for Britain.

A cross-section of the wools the Queen Mother saw indicates the kind of woollens which the United States. Canada, and other overseas markets are demanding. Tweeds (ranging in type from dashing black-and-white Yorkshire tweed to subtly-flecked tweed in lapis-lazuli tone and “plover’s egg” tweed) are right up at the head of Britain’s best exports. Wool ottomans are papular, too. Then come ultra-light-weights, which are goSsa-mer-sheer yet retain all wool’s inimitable qualities. One designer says that he sold the entire collection he took to New York. Best-selJers included a black and ruby-red tweed ensemble which Combined two different Weights of the same tweed; a black-and-white tweed suit with a bright pink velvet collar; a black-and-green mixture wool ottoman suit; and a raspberry-red wool dress with straight skirt which fluted out in gores in action. Sales of Women’s Shirts

Another member Of London’s “Big Ten’’ designers has just returned after designing the women’s shirts for Hathaway for next year. Five thousand dozen Lady Hathaway shirts by this London designer are on the market throughout the United States now. Next season’s shirts will use about 750.000 yards of shirting fabrics. Seventy-five per cent, of these fabrics have already been ordered from Britain. They include thousands of yards of wool taffeta. This is one Of the most popular light-weight wools in the United States. Miss Nina Leclerc, managing director of one leading shop, who is back in London after one of her bi-annual visits to New York, reports redoubled interest in British tweeds and u ne British woollens, especially in Canada. where woollen suits and woollen dresses had a tremendous success. The dresses and suits which the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret saw at the private showing by the Incorporated Society of London Fashion Designers at Upper Terrace House. Lady Clark's Hampstead home, represented magnificent teamwork between London designers only British-made fabrics) and Britisn fabric manufacturers.