What is Horrockses Fashion? The story behind the brand

This weekend sees the opening of the "Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour & the Art of British Ready-to-Wear" Exhibition at The Harris Museum in Preston and we cannot wait to hear the stories of the items on display.

Horrockses is a name that many people in the city are likely to have heard, and for anyone in the world of fashion, it’s a name that they remember. The story of the brand is culturally significant for Britain, but why? Have a read about its fascinating history below

The Horrockses origins 

First off, let's take a look at what Horrockses Fashions was. Its origins lay in the company that John Horrocks created in Preston in 1791. Born from the boom of the textile industry in the area, Horrocks grew in significance over the years and as it grew, more people were brought into partnership.

By 1815 the business was known as Horrocks, Miller and Co, and it began moving to a new form of textile manufacturing, creating yarn that was developed through twisting and colouring under the gaze of Thomas Miller Snr. This would be the start of what brought it to the forefront of the fashion industry.

The last Horrocks to be connected to the business is thought to have died in 1840, but the company always recognised its roots, and even into the 19th century following a merger with another local textile company to become Horrockses, Crewdson and Co in 1887. By this time the company were trading in countries around the world, from Portugal to Mexico, China and beyond.

Horrockses Fashions is born 

Prior to the 20th century women's ready to wear clothing wasn't produced, with women making their own garments or going to a tailor or seamstress to have them made for a precise fit.

This was something that started to change in the early 1900s with the introduction of major fashion brands such as Chanel and Sears producing catalogues of ready to wear fashion items.

Due to the quality of the Horrocks, Crewdson and Co cotton, the company knew they could tap into this market, and plans were drawn up to create a ready-to-wear line of women's clothing in the 1920s.

However, the Second World War meant the plans had to be tabled and it wasn’t until 1946 when the plans eventually came to fruition, and the Horrockses Fashions line was born. This clothing line, released the same year, offered high-quality dresses with unique and exclusive prints, all created in the factory in Preston.

Popularity with the public 

The quality and vibrancy of the dresses appealed to those looking for modern, fresh clothing and the Horrockses Fashions brand soon caught the attention of many.

Whilst the pre-war era had seen a rise in the interest of ready-to-wear garments, many of the lines weren't accessible to the public, coming in at cost that was out of reach for most of the women of the time.

The Horrockses Fashions line was designed to be high quality, and with a much more accessible price tag. They were designed to be worn not only by the wealthy, but also by the women who worked there in the factory, or the housewives of the mill workers.

The design house in London took inspiration from high end Parisian couture houses like Dior and Chanel and used these details to create their stylish ready-to-wear collections in more affordable Lancashire cotton and therefore allowing them to be loved by all.

In addition to the ready to wear collection, the company soon started getting requests for one-offs and "specials" for celebrities and even supplied ABC Film Studios with items for shows in the 40s and 50s.

A Royal Affair 

Arguably the most famous wearer of the brand was Queen Elizabeth. In 1953 The Queen embarked on her first tour of the commonwealth since becoming the reigning Monarch, and took with her a number of Horrockses Fashions garments from the latest line.

There are a number of photos from throughout the 50s of the Queen wearing Horrockses Fashions items, and this just built on the excitement for the nation, as for the first time in history, they were able to purchase the same dress as Royalty!

Into the 50s and beyond

Horrockses Fashions became a staple for the modern-day housewife in the 50s growing in popularity with each new season. However, by the early 60s a change in ownership brought about changes which would eventually lead to its decline.

By the 1980s the brand ceased trading, however the interest in the brand didn’t wane and it has been credited as inspiration for a number of fashion labels and brand lines since.

The Harris Museum Exhibition

The Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour & the Art of British Ready-to-Wear exhibition will house the world's largest museum collection of Horrockses Fashions from the brands heydays.

Revealing more about the creativity, craftsmanship and cultural significance behind what was one of Britain’s most beloved post-war fashion labels, it will provide a fascinating insight into the company and how the people of Preston had a place in such a huge, global story.

Be sure to visit! The Exhibition opens on Saturday 19th September and will run until 31st January 2027. In addition to the exhibition itself, The Harris is running a number of exciting workshops related to dressmaking, fashion and design, as well as a special Horrockses theme afternoon tea.