James Here

 1860-90's

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.

   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
     Authur and Clifford Hare, the founders sons, join the business.

 

 

 

 

1900s“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”.

 

   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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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..