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 |
| Craft category | Leather; Textiles |
| 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 20 cutting gloves and fewer than 100 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 |
|
| Minimum no. of craftspeople required | 3-4 are needed to continue on a smaller scale |
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.
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Pittards, Yeovil, established 1822.
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Southcombe Gloves, Somerset and Dorset, established 1847.
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Chester Jefferies, Gillingham, Dorset, established 1936.
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Cornelia James, East Sussex, established 1946.
-
The British Glove Company based in the South West.
An extensive list of British glove manufacturers, who undertake production in the UK can be found here.
Other information
