Laxtons is one of the UK’s leading specialist yarn manufacturers serving high end global brands. They are still very much a family business, founded by George Laxton and Gordon Holmes in 1907 and run today by the fourth generation, James Laxton. Their in-depth technical knowledge and understanding provides first class results for their clients. Now they have extended their manufacturing capability into specialist yarn dyeing after a £250,000 investment and an exciting collaboration for the UK textile industry.
Yorkshire based Laxtons Limited, best known for their worsted spun and fancy yarns for a range of global markets, is set to launch environmentally pioneering yarn hank dyeing facilities this September following the installation of state of the art plant and machinery at Huddersfield based Park Valley Dyers who will operate the equipment. The investment will enable Laxtons to provide vertical spinning and dyeing of its own products as well as commission dyeing services of natural fibre yarns such as wool, cashmere, silk, mohair, alpaca and blends destined not just for premium knitwear and fashion brands but also the growing hand knitting and craft markets.
Bucking the trend of downsizing during lockdown, Laxtons has invested in a complete hank dyeing production line, from small batch sampling, to flexible batch production of up to 120kg per lot, and the latest drying technology to ensure a premium end product.
“Despite the economic challenges of these unprecedented times, we have pressed ahead with expanding our manufacturing business to enable us to offer an all-encompassing dye service which preserves and even enhances the quality of the high value spun yarns we cater for. It was crucial to have a first class partner and Park Valley Dyers are experts in what they do following their own £2m investment in setting up a brand new package dye house back in 2012.” – CEO James Laxton
Hank dyeing is significantly more sophisticated than traditional package dyeing, because the yarn is not wound and compressed onto cones, but is simply reeled and suspended under its own weight on perforated rotating arms in smaller batch dye cabinets achieving a softer and more voluminous finished product. “This results in a much higher-end finish, which will undoubtedly appeal to customers looking for a more refined product” explains Brian Duckett, Director of Park Valley Dyers.
Hank dyeing not only offers a more bespoke approach to colouring yarn, it benefits from eco-friendly dyeing technologies, which use 80% less water than conventional hank dye methods and ensure 100% dye exhaustion.
Laxtons has been supplying yarn for upholstery, woven apparel and hand knitted products since 1907. Fast forward to 2020, their desire to match their tailor-made approach to design with a bespoke dyeing capability has seen this take shape as one of the most cutting-edge hank dyeing facilities in the UK. Remaining operational through both the First and Second World Wars, Laxtons aims to demonstrate their resilience once again during a worldwide pandemic.
Laxton’s will be exhibiting at Make it British Live! Online. Register for your free ticket here.
