James Hare
of Wellington Street, Leeds. Telephone: Leeds 31204. Cables: "Hare, Leeds". Also at Grafton House, Golden Square, London, W1. Telephone: Gerrard 3043. Cables "Kharserge, Piccy, London"
1865 The founder, James Hare, set up as a merchant of woollens and worsteds from a cottage in Leeds.
1891 The company grew into one of the largest fabric wholesalers in Britain, specializing in woollens and worsteds for the tailoring trade.
James Hare travelled each day into work in a horse and carriage. His wife and daughter would regularly accompany him to go shopping in Leeds. This symbol became the companies' famous horse and carriage logo.
1901 Following the death of Queen Victoria, James Hare sold over 250,000 metres of black serge for funeral wear.
1908 James Hare died; his sons Arthur and Clifford continued the business.
1913 The company started to manufacture cloth with 7 looms.
1922 James Hare was the first company outside London to install a teleprinter link.
1933 The company opened a suit making-up service.
1935 2,000,000 metres of fabric dispatched from James Hare warehouse in that year.
1939 James Hare was the only English fabric manufacturer to guarantee their dyewares during the second world war. Queen Mary and the Duchess of Gloucester posed for a photograph on the James Hare stand in White City, London.
1947 British Industries Fair Advert as Manufacturers and Merchants of Quality Woollens, Worsteds, Silks and Linings. (Textiles Section - Earls Court, Ground Floor, Stand No. 242) [1]
1951 The company concentrated on the export trade, and opened offices in Canada and Germany.
1953 James Hare, the founder's great-grandson joined the company.
1968 Tim Hare, the founder's great-grandson joined the company.
1973 The international name “Hare of England” was sold, and the company concentrated on the distribution of fine dress fabrics, including silks, under the management of James Hare, the great-grandson of the founder.
Note: The company, still run by the Hare family, has its own website.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1947 British Industries Fair Advert 145; and p129