From its origins as a specialist craft guild, over its history The Clothworkers' Company progressively lost touch with its roots, as clothworking moved away from London.
In the twenty-first century, Britain's wealth is no longer founded on wool or manufacturing and indeed the textile industry is no longer a significant economic force.
Nevertheless, The Clothworkers' Company retains an interest in the industry. We have a long-term interest in fostering education, now supported by The Clothworkers' Foundation, which has also funded a number of appeals from heritage bodies seeking support for textile-related schemes.
Over the past decade we have sought to re-establish links with trade bodies, manufacturers and academics. We now have a good relationship with the National Wool Export Corporation and some senior representatives of the industry have joined the Company.
We are also interested in supporting the development of textiles in innovative ways, including funding research into the creation and application of new textiles for medical and industrial uses.
Follow the links in the side navigation to learn more about our historic craft and our present involvement in textiles education, preservation and innovation.
You may also be interested in the leaflet 'Textiles and Clothworking', published by the Company.
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