Brettles of Belper | Vintage brands

Brettles, also know as Brettles of Belper, was a British manufacturer of socks, stockings, and knitted goods., circa 1803 - present day*.

Brettles label circa 1970s

Brettles label circa 1970s

A brief history

More than 200 years old, Brettles was founded in the early nineteenth century in a small town in Derbyshire, England, when William Ward — brother to John Ward of Ward & Son, a hosiery merchant in Belper — partnered with George Brettle, a fellow hosiery apprentice in London. George Brettle was the son of Edward Brettles, owner of London haberdashers and merchants E. Brettle and Co. and founder of the brand ‘House of Brettle’ (est. 1786).

The firm produced silk stockings for the elite, including Queen Victoria. The partnership became a major employer for Derbyshire and many families in the Belper community have family connections to Brettles going back generations. Read more about this here (I like to imagine some connection to this as my own mother was born there).

Hosiery exhibits in North Mill Museum cc-by-sa/2.0 - © dave challender - geograph.org.uk/p/173891

Hosiery exhibits in North Mill Museum cc-by-sa/2.0 - © dave challender - geograph.org.uk/p/173891

Brettles pre-dates factory production and until 1850 many of their wares were hand produced. Thereafter Brettles turned to factory production. In the 1870s, an increasing proportion of Brettles' goods took the form of knitted underwear rather than stockings.

We have a fine example of some Brettles knitted longline panties estimated to date circa 1970s.

1960s Brettles pointelle high-waist knit panties

1960s Brettles pointelle high-waist knit panties

The brand changed hands several times over the years do due to deaths, war austerity, and other financial challenges (read more about this here). Brettles was bought by Courtaulds in 1964, and later, in 2002 by lingerie manufacturer Slenderella, who are still selling goods under the brand today*.

*True at date of publishing

  Do you have any Brettles vintage? Or maybe you have a connection with Brettles? Tell us about it in the comments

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