https://www.abrahammoon.co.uk/
We are currently only able to ship within the UK for
online orders of both samples & fabrics.
For international trade enquiries, please email
customerservice@moons.co.uk.
ABOUT US
Founded in
1837 and with our roots in apparel, we are one of the last remaining vertical
woollen mills in Great Britain, with a reputation for consistent quality and
innovative design. Here you can discover more about the Abraham Moon mill, our
illustrious company history, and the many natural benefits of wool fabrics.
COMPANY
HISTORY
Our company's
fine history is just one of many features that come together to make Abraham
Moon products extra special, and is something we're rightfully proud of. From
supplying fabric for a growing Leeds market throughout the 1800's to supplying
the major fashion houses of modern times, this rich tapestry all comes together
to create quite a story over the past 180 years.
FROM HUMBLE
BEGINNINGS TO INTERNATIONAL RENOWN
1837 - A
memorable year in at least 2 respects. It was the year in which Queen Victoria
succeeded to the British throne and it was also the year in which Abraham Moon
& Sons was founded.
Abraham
Moon, a considerable standing in the community of Guiseley, on the Northern
fringes of Leeds and the Southern fringes of the Yorkshire Dales, supplied many
local families with yarn to weave cloth on hand looms in their homes. When the
cloth was woven he would collect the pieces, paying the weavers for their work.
The cloth was then scoured (washed) locally and hung out to dry in the
surrounding fields. Abraham would then transport the pieces by horse and cart
to Leeds for sale in the market.
The newly
built railway to Leeds ran directly behind the mill which had its own sidings.
This proved an invaluable form of transport both inward (wool for processing,
coal for power) and outward (distribution of cloth to the expanding consumer
network). The company’s records show exports to both Western Europe and Japan
as early as the 1890’s.
“Mr Moon
was attending the annual Yeadon feast in his horse-drawn carriage. When a band
struck up the startled horse bolted down Henshaw Lane. Two passengers managed
to jump clear and were unharmed but Mr Moon stayed in his carriage trying to
calm his horse. In its panic it tried to turn into a familiar lane where there
was no room for the carriage. The vehicle demolished part of a wall into which
Abraham Moon was thrown. He died soon afterwards from a head injury”. The
article goes on to report that the horse survived the accident!
After his
death, Abraham’s son Isaac succeeded him in the business, which continued to
flourish throughout the remainder of the Victorian era.
Design and
pattern books which date back to the early part of the Twentieth Century tell a
story in themselves. Fashion fabrics from 1900 to 1913 gradually give way to
army shirting, trouserings and greatcoat cloths from 1914 which in turn are
replaced by the emerging fashions of the 20s. Today designers use the old
pattern books for inspiration with new designs and the re-creation of retro
looks.
1954 - Frank’s
nephew Arthur took control, only retiring as chairman in 2010. The current
managing director is John Walsh, the fourth generation of the family which
succeeded the Moon dynasty. 1952 also marked a further extension of the mill,
still located at the original site on Netherfield Road, making more room for
the warping and weaving of the fabrics.
2009 – Bronte
Tweeds was purchased by Abraham Moon & Sons. Already a well-known producer
of throws and tartans, the combination of Bronte's extensive market knowledge
and our dedicated in-house design team and manufacturing versatility has seen
our accessories division grow exponentially in the years since. Bronte Tweeds
was rebranded as Bronte by Moon in 2013.
The showroom space was renovated from our old
finishing department, where for decades our fabrics went to be steam pressed
and rolled before the final quality control checks and despatch.
We have
archive pictures of the space from even further back, 1912 in fact, when the
area was used for burling and mending. You can clearly see the Victorian-era
building archways and brickwork behind our new Sales & Marketing office.
This
original building work was then extended in the 1950s, adding approximately 10m
to the width of the mill on what was previously a courtyard. This is where our
mill stands to this day, in close proximity to Netherfield Road.
Now it has
been completely transformed into what you see here and below; an opportunity
for us to not only give our ever-expanding product range a permanent display,
but to tell the story of our unique heritage and historic craftsmanship.
CONTACT
INFORMATION
We love to
hear from you on our customer service, product range, website, or any other
topics you wish to share with us. Your comments and suggestions will always be
appreciated; please complete our ‘Get in Touch’ form with your feedback.
Our
customer service team aim to respond to all messages within 24 hours; during
our busier periods this may not be possible so please allow up to three working
days for a reply.
For the
address, contact number and opening hours of the Abraham Moon shops in York and
Guiseley please see below:
YORK
33
Stonegate, York, YO1 8AW
Mon-Sat:
9am-5:30pm Sun: 11am-5pm
GUISELEY
Netherfield
Road, Guiseley, LS20 9HQ
Mon-Sat:
10am-5pm Sun: 10am-4pm
THE FABRIC
SHOP
Our stock
supported fashion fabrics are now available online. Pick from classic
best-selling tweeds in a wide range of colours from the Abraham Moon range.
We're
pleased to provide this special cut-length service, through which our fabrics
are used for all manner of projects including tailored jackets, trousers,
skirts, hats, and even footwear. All Moon tweed fabrics are British made at our
unique woollen mill in Guiseley, Yorkshire, where we have been crafting fine
cloths with love & precision for 180 years.
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