Huguenot Silk Weavers

The Huguenots were French and Flemish Protestants who fled their own countries because of religious persecution. There were two main waves of Huguenot migration – in the latter half of the sixteenth century and towards the end of the seventeenth century. In all, over 200,000 Huguenots fled to the UK and Netherlands.

Huguenot migrants possessed considerable knowledge of the textiles industries –especially silk-making. The Courtauld family established a prospering silk industry at Braintree, Essex, while Huguenot weavers also concentrated in the Spitalfields area of London. Lewis (Or Louis) Paul invented the method of roller spinning that was later developed by Richard Arkwright to such great effect.

Today companies such as Stephen Walters silk weavers for nine generations and Vanners carry on the silk weaving in Suffolk England. Many British designers are using these companies to produce world class fabrics for their silk ties. Minimum quantities are relatively small so it supports the growing bespoke market. Most importantly it’s sustainable, environmentally friendly and ethically produced.