Behind the Scenes

Demand for knitted goods provided entrepreneurs with an opportunity to manufacture and sell their wares. Over time hosiers established businesses and their names became associated with the industry.

A well-established brand name was a prized possession for any manufacturer because it enabled the firm to promote its own products through advertising and focus its sales on its chosen market sector.

Many of the villages, towns and cities in the East Midlands have played a role in the knitting industry's history at some point.

William Lee, William Cotton, and Jedediah Strutt are a few of the names associated with the history of the knitting industry.

The knitting industry, like many other industries, developed a range of organisations and associations to support its companies and workers.

Since 1589 manufacturers have used a range of different technologies to produce their knitted goods. Each technology has been exploited by framework knitters and designers to produce varied and unique finishes to goods, in the hope that people will want to buy them.