Glove making
The making of gloves, particularly in leather. For hand knitted woollen gloves, see the separate entry for knitting.
This craft uses products derived from animals – please read our ethical sourcing statement.
Status | Endangered |
Historic area of significance | Yeovil, Somerset |
Area currently practised | Gillingham, Dorset, Warminster, Somerset |
Origin in the UK | 1800s |
Current no. of professionals (main income) | Probably fewer than 10 cutting gloves and fewer than 50 individuals making gloves in total. |
Current no. of professionals (sideline to main income) |
unknown |
Current no. of trainees | unknown |
Current total no. serious amateur makers |
unknown |
Current total no. of leisure makers |
History
Techniques
- Hand sewing
- Machine sewing – full pique, half pique, prixseam, inseam, brosser
Local forms
Sub-crafts
Issues affecting the viability of the craft
- Ageing workforce
- A lack of willing local apprentices prepared to train in glove making
- Competition from low cost countries
- A limited supply of local raw material suppliers
- Limited local maintenance services for machinery
Support organisations
Craftspeople currently known
- Riina Oun
-
Dents of England, Warminster, established 1777.
-
Pittards, Yeovil, established 1822.
-
Southcombe Gloves, Somerset and Dorset, established 1847.
-
Cornelia James, East Sussex, established 1946.
Other information