Herbert Walkers

During the war the Make Do and Mend” campaign motivated British women to recycle wool and knit garments for the soldiers as part of the war effort. By 1946 Britain had developed an army of enthusiastic knitters who were keen to access new patterns and fresh colours. The Walker family capitalised on their location (Yorkshire was still one of the major wool producers in the world) and began to manufacture shade cards for knitting wool, selling directly to retailers. With a country of knitters inspired by austerity following the end of the war fringed shade cards were in big demand. During the 1960’s the business was expanding at such a rate it had moved from four separate locations to one consolidated site in Shipley. Keith Chapman, the current owner joined the business in a sales role, rapidly progressing to Sales Director and business boomed. Herbert Walkers was supplying all the major knitting wool manufacturers in the UK and the USA and domestic knitters were now able to access shade cards direct via mail order.