Henri Lloyd
 | |
| Industry | Clothing manufacturing, Retail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1963 by Henri Strzelecki |
| Headquarters | Manchester, England |
Key people | Angus Lloyd[1] (founder) Henri Strzelecki[1] (founder) |
| Products | Clothing |
| Website | http://henrilloyd.com |
Henri Lloyd is a British clothing manufacturer that specializes in sailing, yachting and golfing apparel.
Established in Manchester in 1963 and still headquartered there, the company has 40 stores spanning UK, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe.
History
Henri-Lloyd Limited was founded in 1963 in Manchester by Angus Lloyd and Henri Strzelecki.[1][2]
A soldier in the Polish Army during World War II,[2] Strzelecki was awarded both Polish and British military medals in 1946. He settled in Manchester at war's end and studied textiles and design before working with local clothing companies there.[2] In time known as "Mr Henri" or "Waterproof Henry", Strzelecki was given the Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1985.[2] Two Queen's Awards for Export Achievement followed in 1986 and 1987.
Innovation
Henri Lloyd pioneered the use of new technologies and fabrics such as Bri-Nylon in its early clothing lines.[2] Among its innovations were the first non-corrosive zipper made of nylon, the introduction of Velcro closures in waterproof garments, the hand taping of seams as an alternative to varnishing, and the incorporation of Gore-Tex waterproofing.
The use of Gore-Tex alone went through over 22,000 hours of round the world testing at sea before it was first sold to customers in Henri Lloyd high performance breathable foul weather gear 1994. The company’s TP3 Reflex Jacket and Hi-Fit Trouser won the Design Award METS at the Marine Equipment Trade Show in Amsterdam.
The mid-1990s saw the launch of Henri Lloyd Black Label. This Massimo Goggi designed collection linked Italian-inspired sportswear with technically innovative fabrics, helping the firm earn the Fashion Brand of the Year in the UK award in 1997.
The company's collections now include men’s, women’s and footwear.
Corporate partnership
In 2009, Henri Lloyd became the "Official Supplier of Clothing and Footwear Technology" of the Brawn GP Formula One Team as part of a commercial partnership.[2]
References
- ^ a b c Edwards, Anna (2012-12-28). "'Visionary pioneer' behind Henri Lloyd brand and who was first to use Velcro in clothing dies aged 87". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
- ^ a b c d e f "Founder of 'Henri Lloyd' clothing brand dies". thenews.pl at Polskie Radio. 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2013-01-13.