AVOCA HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW AT THE RDS JANUARY 2018
The mill on the banks of the fast-flowing River Avoca survives from at least 1723. Travel to and from the remote village was difficult and a barter system was used. The mill was used for grinding corn for bread and spinning and weaving wool.
In 1760 a Fly Shuttle Loom, capable of weaving up to 20 metres of cloth a day arrived. Workers, concerned about possible unemployment, resorted to burning some looms.
Three sisters, the Wynnes, inherited the mill in the 1920s and introduced colour. Avoca Handweavers tweeds was produced and exported, including for use by Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli. The material was also used for a waistcoat for King George VI and baby blankets for the children of Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1974, Donald Pratt, a solicitor engaged to handle the sale of the mill which now faced closure decided to buy it himself. Along with his wife, Hilary, a teacher, he set about getting Avoca Handweavers back on its feet. The Pratts began exporting handwoven rugs and throws to the UK and other countries. Avoca throws are still sold across the globe.
Managed now by two generations of the Pratt family, Avoca continues to develop with several large retail outlets around Ireland, including Powerscourt and Malahide Castle, and in Belfast. Many of these also have popular foodhalls & cafes attached as their food operations expand. The Avoca Café Cookbooks have proven to be popular bestsellers.
The company has a number of women's clothing ranges which it sells through its own stores designed by Amanda Pratt, as well as wholesaling in Ireland and internationally. The best known of these is Avoca Anthology.
Avoca is also strongly associated with gardens and has several very rare trees in its Kilmacanogue grounds and one of Ireland's most famous gardens at Mount Usher Gardens in Ashford, County Wicklow. The company employs over 600 people.
-
AVOCA HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 001
-
AVOCA HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 002
-
AVOCA HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 003
-
AVOCA HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 004
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 005
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 006
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 007
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 008
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 013
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 014
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 015
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 016
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 017
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 018
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 019
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 020
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 021
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 022
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 023
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 024
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 025
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 026
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 027
-
HANDWEAVERS - FASHION SHOW 028