Avoca is one of the oldest surviving businesses in Ireland with a history dating back over 280 to 1723. A family-run company, it takes it’s name from the village in County Wicklow where it was formed.

In these early years, the mill at Avoca was the focal point of the local community. It would grind corn for bread and weave clothing and blankets using wool from the local sheep.

A new, much faster loom was installed in 1760. The new Fly Shuttle Loom was able to weave up to 20 metres of cloth a day, much to the chargrin of the workforce, who were concerned about the security of their jobs to the point where the looms in some mills were burnt.

Avoca still use this traditional method for making cloth to this day, but with less loom-burnings we presume! Powerlooms are also used these days, to keep up with the heavy demand.

By the early 1900s, the mill had become quite run down and was inherited by three sisters ih the 1920s. Wonderfully creative, the Wynnes sisters injected new life into the mill and started to use colour from natural dyes. Later, they began to use reds, greens and yellows from vegetable dyes.

A pivotal moment in the development of Avoca came in the 1930s, when they had an international breakthrough thanks to Elsa Schaparelli. The world-famous designer used Avoca Tweed in her collection for the modern European woman.

Unfortunately, even after this success, the mill fell into disrepair when the Wynnes sisters passed away.

In 1974, the then-owner was concidering developing the property, much to the disapproval of his lawyer, Donald Pratt. Tired of being lectured by Donald about the immorality of closing down the mill forever, he suggested that Donal should buy it from him, which Donald did.

Despite having no knowledge of of weaving, Donald and his wife, Hilary, believed there was enourmous potential in the run-down mill.

Later, they both decided to quit their current vocations, his law and her’s teaching, to concentrate on developing this new enterprise. And with some hard work they managed to slowly but surely relaunch the business producing the beautifully woven fabrics which became Avoca’s hallmark.

Initially retailed under the Avoca collection label, their tweed suits, separates and coats have long been a staple of many Irish women’s wardrobes.

Avoca Anthology, their designer women’s wear collection has also been remarkably successful in it’s first few seasons.

Launched in London in 2002, Anthology is carried by over 200 stockists outside Ireland and was recently named as one of the top ten boutique labels by leading UK trade magazine, Drapers.

Official website: http://www.avoca.ie/