David meets Bradford business supplying fabric to Prada
Bradford MP and member of the Business Select Committee, David Ward, has met the Bradford weaver supplying 
fabrics to leading fashion labels.
William Halstead are weavers of mohair and worsted for mens and womens suitings, supplying fabric to Prada, Simon Spurr, Calvin Klein and Louis Voutton. They have just returned from a showing thier spring/summer collection in Milan.
The company was founded in 1875 in Bradford by William Halstead (1815-1924). Late in 1889 with the business expanding rapidly, William built Stanley Mills to which the company transferred in 1890 and still operates from today.
William continued to work at Stanley Mills until he died in his office at the mill in 1924 after 53 years in the business. Since then the business has been run by a further five members of the family until in 2006 the company was acquired by SIL Holdings Ltd, another Bradford based family textile business. SIL are one of the largest speciality fibre manufacturers and merchants in the world.
Commenting, David Ward said:
"Bradford's history is steeped in the wool industry and it is fantastic that we still have Bradford companies working at the highest level in this business today. The city and the country should be truly proud that the likes of Prada and Louis Voutton are chosing fabric made in Bradford for their suits.
"We need to see what more we can do to support businesses like William Halstead and promote British wool in the UK and abroad. There are a number of issues that the company have raised and I will be raising these with the Trade Minister. Bradford has a rich heritage in the wool industry and it is right that we should be competing with the best in the world."