Henri Lloyd
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| Industry | Clothing manufacturing, Retail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1963 by Henri Strzelecki |
| Headquarters | Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK |
| Products | Clothing |
| Website | www.henrilloyd.com |
Company Information
Henri Lloyd's headquarters are based in Manchester, England. They have 40 stores spanning UK, Australia, the Middle East and Europe. In recent years, Henri Lloyd has added some new additions to their fashion lines which are hand crafted footwear collection, a Boys wear collection and a younger denim focused brand (HL Jeans Co) which launched in 2008. In March 2009 Henri Lloyd signed a commercial partnership with Brawn GP as Official Supplier of Clothing and Footwear Technology
History
Henri Lloyd is a British clothing manufacturer established in Manchester in 1963 that specialises in making clothes for sailing, yachting and golfing.
With a heritage embedded in nautical innovation, Henri Lloyd’s history ensues a prestigious expedition. From creating groundbreaking fabrics for sailing clothes to defining the zeitgeist for Italian youths, Henri Lloyd’s contribution to global design and fashion is impressive.
The original Henri Lloyd, Henri Strzelecki was a soldier in the Polish Army. Settling in Manchester at the end of the Second World War, Strzelecki or ”Mr Henri” as he became known, studied textiles and design before working with local clothing companies in Manchester.
As a keen sailor, in the 1960s, Mr Henri realised the potential of a technical fabric, Bri-Nylon. Forming Henri Lloyd Limited in 1963, Mr Henri pioneered the use of these technical fabrics, closures and safety features within sailing clothing and consequently he revolutionised the world of sailing. The first non-corrosive zip made of nylon, the introduction of a Velcro closure in waterproof garments, and the hand taping of seams as an alternative to varnishing, were all Henri Lloyd’s unique innovations.
In 1966, Sir Francis Chichester was the first man to circumnavigate the globe and he was decked out in Henri Lloyd. In 1979, the Transglobe Expedition, the first round the world journey, via the poles, was led by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, with himself and all his crew, safely protected in Henri Lloyd’s foul weather gear.
Henri Lloyd’s focus on developing new technology allowed innovative thinking to be a part of the design process. In 1994, his high performance breathable foul weather gear, proved to be the most significant revolution since the introduction of Bri-Nylon. Henri Lloyd’s breathing range used Gore-Tex for the first time, and it went through over 22,000 hours of round the world testing at sea, before it was sold to customers. In 2001 Henri Lloyd’s TP3 Reflex Jacket and Hi-Fit Trouser won the Design Award METS, at the Marine Equipment Trade Show in Amsterdam.
Mr Henri’s achievements were a result of his visionary ideas and dedication to his work. In 1946 he was awarded both Polish and British military medals, and in 1985 he was given the MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, This followed in 1986 and 1987 by two Queens awards for export achievements.
In 1984 the brand took a new turn and became fashionable. The Milan Scooter Society adopted a style-focused uniform of Timberland deck shoes, Levi’s 501’s and the Henri Lloyd Consort Original sailing jacket. Henri Lloyd’s clothing and accessories quickly became an essential fashion accessory for Europe’s image savvy men.
As a developing lifestyle brand, Henri Lloyd then worked with Italian designer Olmes Carretti to capitalise on the Henri Lloyd’s heritage of British attitude, and fuse with Italian design sophistication. The collections combined innovative materials, natural fabrics, traditional skills and the signature bold use of colour.
The mid 1990’s heralded a new important chapter, with the launch of Henri Lloyd Black Label. A swerve collection linked Italian inspired sportswear with technically innovative fabrics and was designed by Massimo Goggi. The label was so successful, that it was recognised as defining fashion at that time, and in 1997 Henri Lloyd was awarded as Fashion Brand of the Year in the UK.
Henri Lloyd’s collections now include men’s, women’s and footwear. With flagship stores from London to Sydney the brand successfully fuses its nautical heritage with catwalk cool. Remaining loyal to its sailing roots, Henri Lloyd now successfully attracts a wider demographic. The chosen wardrobe for sailing professionals and devoted leisure sailors, Henri Lloyd also magnetises stylish consumers, who identify with the unique spirit that was defined by Mr Henri.
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