A Royal Visit

Her Royal Highness visited in her role as President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association UKFT. She met with our amazing team and was shown how we produce our fine lace knitted pieces. 

Chris - Knitting Technician - describes the technical aspects of the yarn we use and the winding process.

Amy - Knitwear Designer - explains how modern knitwear is designed using sophisticated software and CAD tools, before transferring onto the knitting machines.

Reg - Head Mechanic - briefs HRH on how the various types of knitting machinery produce our unique fine lacy patterns.

Dawn - Finishing Supervisor - provides a demonstration of overlocking, one of the many finishing trades.

Ann - Finishing Assistant - showing HRH how we inspect each shawl, while folding, to ensure each piece is pattern perfect. Gillian - Director - watching too.

We were also able to demonstrate two working handframes from our historic collection, welcoming our good friend Stuart, a Handframe Technician and volunteer at The Framework Knitters Museum.

Towards the end of our Factory tour, The Princess Royal unveiled a commemorative plaque, to mark her visit, as well as presenting a long service award to Reg, our Head Mechanic, celebrating 53 years of service and dedication to G.H.Hurt & Son and the artisan craft of lace knitting.

The Princess Royal also met our distinguished guests & partners: Mr Michael Marsden, Executive Dean of Nottingham School of Art & Design, Nottingham Trent University and Mr Akira Oseto, Director of Net Laboratories Ltd, our distribution partner for Japan.

Gillian Taylor - Director - comments

“We were delighted and honoured to receive The Princess Royal here at our Shawl Factory. It is also a wonderful reward for the staff, as our beautiful lace knitwear depends on their unique skills and hard work.”

“We have always been a creative and innovative business. Our main aim in more recent years has been to continue to innovate and develop international markets.”

“It was such a pleasure to share a little of our local lace knitting heritage with The Princess Royal.”