The story of James Hare is one of small beginnings. With nothing but experience and an understanding of the needs of the tailoring trade, James began the business single-handedly distributing cloth bought from small weavers.
1900's
The company’s values were ‘upright dealing’, ‘honest value’ and ‘full
satisfaction’. In the words of its founder, “to us this reputation is a
very precious thing. We treasure it as we treasure our dignity. For this
reputation – this dignity – this family pride – gives our customers full
confidence that we shall never sell anything that in quality and sterling
worth might be held to be below that high standard set for us”.
1910's
James Hare becomes a fully operational cloth manufacturing mill and the biggest stockist of Harris Tweed in the world. Know as the “Cloth Headquarters of the British Isles”, it became the largest textile distribution house in Great Britain.
1920's
James Hare were the first company to introduce bunches for the tailoring trade
made at the company’s headquarters. The firm’s accountants once calculated that the cloth used each year for those bunches would make a carpet two yards wide that would stretch from Leeds to Carlisle!
1930's
The firm’s policy was always to install the latest equipment, in order to improve the service offered to their customers. James Hare Ltd. became the first company in Britain, outside of London, to install a teleprinter and answer machine. They boasted that if a London tailor placed an order at 9am,by 9.10am the material will be on itsway to the train station.
1940
-1950's
The company issued an uplifting Christmas press release to its customers at the end of the war, announcing “How absurd are these rumours that ‘Britain is finished... a little tired, perhaps... but finished NO! We at James Hare Ltd, are proud to share in speeding Britain’s recovery: in doing so, we maintain and enhance our own tradition of craftsmanship and service”.
1960's
Hare’s was the first woollen merchant to advertise, earning themselves the nickname “The Quality People”. A press office was opened in Fleet Street, London, with a staff of artists, designers, writers and photographers.
1980's
The 1980’s is a huge period of change for the company. The woollen manufacturing firm is sold, along with the brand “Hare of England”. It re establishes itself as a silk merchant becoming the leading supplier of the bridal and fashion trade.
1990
-2000's
The vast colour ranges of silk chiffon, satin, dupion, organza, lace and many other qualities, ensured that James Hare fabrics became a regular feature on catwalks. The policy of no minimum order and cuts to the nearest 10 cms ensure that their service was second to none
Today
Today, James Hare is Britain’s leading silk specialist. It is still owned and run by the Hare family, producing luxury textiles for the demanding world of fashion and interiors. Firm favourites with leading designers and decorators, James Hare luxurious fabrics are famous worldwide.
The business has progressed over generations but it continues to abide by its founder’s principals of bringing the customer only the best of British design, quality and service.
- The founder, James Hare
- Arthur Hare
- Old logo with James Hare his wife and daughters
- From humble beginnings
on Clare Street
- James Hare his wife and daughters
- Clifford Hare
- Queen Victoria
- James Hare with employees
- Manufacturing at Arlington Mills
- Manufacturing at Arlington Mills
- Manufacturing at Arlington Mills
- Wellington Street Warehouse, Leeds
- Bunches for the tailoring trade
- Manufacturing at Arlington Mills
- London offices, Grafton House, Golden Square W1
- Harris Tweed booklet
- Telefax printer
- James William Hare grandson
- James Hare's Car Fleet
- The clothing manufacturing department
- The clothing manufacturing department
- Dress by David Hartnell
- Queen Mary & the Duchess of Gloucester
- Establishing subsicliary company in Canada
- James Hare Ltd Leeds service
- Press Advertising
- Press Advertising
- Press Advertising
- Press Advertising
- James Hare, the current chairman, joins the firm
- Collection & Touching the Sky Collection
- Collection & Touching the Sky Collection
- Collection & Touching the Sky Collection
- Collection & Touching the Sky Collection
- Zuzana Kubickova
- Alan Hannah
- Zuzana Kubickova
- The Vintage Wedding Dress Company
- Catwalk
- The Hare Family today
- HRH The Princess Royal visited James Hare
- HRH The Princess Royal visited James Hare
- HRH The Princess Royal visited James Hare
- HRH The Princess Royal visited James Hare
- HRH The Princess Royal visited James Hare
- Latest interior ranges
- Latest interior ranges
- Latest interior ranges
- Latest interior ranges
—1865
James Hare sets up in a cottage on Clare Street, Leeds, purchasing odd fabric lengths and selling to train drivers or guards who in turn sold them to London tailors.
—1876
The company moves into a Leeds city centre warehouse as it develops into a bona fide woollen merchants.
—1882
The horse and carriage logo is designed. The original version shows the founder, James Hare, travelling to the office every day from his home, accompanied by his wife Mary Ellen and daughters Florrie and Kate.
—1892
Arthur and Clifford Hare, the founder’s sons, join the business.
—1901
James hears that Queen Victoria is seriously ill. In those days, everyone wore black following the death of a monarch, and so he sinks all his savings into black serge. On her death, the company sells 250,000 metres of black cloth. This is a turning point, as a business which was previously limited to the north of England became known throughout the country.
—1903
The costume department opened.
—1905
Face Cloth was successfully introduced.
—1908
James Hare died and the business was taken over by his sons Arthur and Clifford.
—1913
The company launched into the manufacture of woollens and worsteds, starting off with seven looms. At the Leeds headquarters there were twisting and weaving units, dye mills and a finishing
department, supplying both the male and female tailoring trades throughout the British Isles.
—1914
During the upheaval of the First World War, when the cloth manufacturing and dye trades were in a chaotic condition, Hare’s were the only people who unconditionally guaranteed their dye wares. In the words of Clifford Hare, the founder’s son, “Hare’s dyes are part of the Hare scheme of excellence”.
—1921
Arthur Hare was on holiday at a hotel in Southwold. One evening in the bar, he had a conversation with a London banker whose views on the world financial situation were grave. The next morning
Arthur headed home and called a conference with his brother, a decision was made to drastically reduce stocks with huge price reductions. Two months later the financial crisis came to a head and
although James Hare suffered, they fared better than the rest of the trade.
—1929
The company was amongst the first to recognise the unique beauty of Harris Tweed. Mr. Herbert Morris, the only non-family Director, loved the Islands and spent his holidays there. Through his
foresight and guidance, Hare’s became the largest stockist of Harris Tweed in the world.
—1931
The company made its entire fleet of cars available to the election candidates supporting the National Government including the services of its chauffeurs, road representatives and department
managers. Its press release announced that “this is the best contribution we can make towards the success of the National Government”.
—1932
James William Hare and Clifford Ronald Pitt Hare, grandsons of the founder, join the firm.
—1933
James Hare expanded its operations into the manufacture of garments for the tailoring trade, making raincoats, school uniforms, sports jackets and blazers.
—1935
2,000,000 yards of fabric is despatched from the warehouse.
—1937
A record number of orders is despatched, 1,168 parcels by 12 noon on the Wednesday following Easter.
—1939
Queen Mary and the Duchess of Gloucester posed for a photograph on the James Hare stand at White City, London.
—1951
The export department is established with subsidiaries opening in Canada and Germany.
—1964
James Hare, the founders great grandson and current Chairman joined the firm.
—1984
Tim Hare, the founders great grandson and current Managing Director joined the firm.
The international name of “Hare of England” is sold, and then reopens as a silk distributor for the fashion trade. It is the first company to offer no minimums to small designers, thereby bypassing
fabric retail shops. It became the leading importer of silk dupion, just at the time when the puff ball trend takes off.
—1989
Sold millionth metre of silk.
—1995
Stocks the largest colour range of silk dupion in Europe.
—1999
Moves into the Interior Design business supplying silks for the furnishings trade.
—2000
Charlie and Saffron Hare, the founder’s great-great-grandchildren joined the firm.
—2002
The interior plain silk range is increased to over 600 shades.
—2004
A range of cushions and throws are introduced.
—2005
Exports to over 34 countries worldwide.
—2008
First upholstery collection is introduced.
—2009
Silk wallcovering service is opened. Virtually all the wonderful silks can be paper backed to order
—2011
Two showrooms in Beijing are opened.
—2012
London showroom for fashion fabrics is opened.
—2014
Representation in Germany and the United States is established.
—2015
James Hare celebrates its 150th anniversary. The company is marking its remarkable history with two
distinctive interior collections, Evolution and Richmond, which fuse heritage inspirations with contemporary style. HRH the Princess Royal visits the company as part of their 150 year celebrations.ation in Germany and the United States is established.
—2016
James Hare interiors range moves into the Marvic Showroom at Chelsea Harbour. Distribution in the Middle East is established.