Corgi Socks

Corgi Socks is the trading name of Corgi Hosiery Limited, a manufacturer of luxury socks and knitwear in hand-knitted wool, cotton and cashmere. Its factory is located in Ammanford, Wales, UK where it currently employs around 50 people.[1] The business is a subsidiary of Dewhurst Dent Plc, owners of Dents.[2] It has a reputation as a manufacturer of luxury socks and its customers include the British royal family.[3]

Corgi Socks
TypePrivate Company
IndustryRetail
FoundedAmmanford, Wales (1892 (1892))
Headquarters
Ammanford
,
Wales UK
Key people
Chris Jones, Co-Managing Director Lisa Wood, Co-Managing Director
ProductsSocks, Knitwear
Number of employees
50 (2017)
Websitewww.corgisocks.com

History of the business

Corgi was founded in 1892. It began as a maker of socks for Welsh miners and moved on to making argyle pattern socks for Brooks Brothers in 1939.[4] Corgi made socks for the British troops during World War II.[4]

Over the years Corgi has gone in and out of different ownership, but has always been run by the Jones family.

It was founded by Rhys Jones and is now run by his great, great grandchildren, siblings Chris Jones and Lisa Wood,[5] who took over from their father Huw Jones in 1997 and transitioned the business from making socks under other people's labels to growing the Corgi brand.[4] It has been a subsidiary of Dewhurst Dent PLC since 2008.[2]

Corgi now makes knitwear under its own brand as well as for designers like Burberry and Thom Browne.[6]

In 2015, the business expanded with a 3,000-square feet extension and new knitting machines.[6]

Machinery and manufacture

Corgi uses many older machines in its manufacturing, including rare 125-year-old Griswold hand-knitting machines, and links the toes of its socks by hand using traditional methods.[6] Knitwear is hand-framed and intricate intarsia designs can be created.[7]

In the media

It was reported that Queen Elizabeth II bought her socks from Corgi,[8][9][10] and Prince George has a jumper made by the company.[11][12] To raise funds for those impacted by the Manchester Arena bombing, socks decorated with bees were made – bees being a symbol of Manchester.[13] In 2012 the company was fined following mishandling of asbestos by contractors during renovations to the roof.[14]

Awards

Corgi received a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales (now Charles III) in 1989.[15][16][6][17]

See also

References
  1. ITV, Report. "Is Wales working? Welsh manufacturing 'on the up'". ITV News. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  2. "Corgi Hosiery Ltd.: Private Company Information - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  3. Domachowski, Lucy. "Fibre rollout helps Corgi grow globally". South Wales Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  4. Crompton, Simon. "Corgi: Factory visit". Permanent Style. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  5. Kiernan, Gerry (19 May 2016). "Inside the Royal Warrant holders – Prince Charles's favourite sock maker - Hiscox Business Blog". Hiscox Business Blog. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  6. Pyke, Chris. "How a Welsh family firm made headlines making socks for the Queen and a jumper for Prince George". Wales Online. Wales Online. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  7. Crompton, Simon. "CORGI: THE MACHINES". Permanent Syle. Permanent Style. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  8. Barrie, Joshua. "The staggering amount the Queen spends on her socks". The Mirror. The Mirror. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  9. Carballo, Charlie. "Queen Elizabeth Turns 91 — And You'll Never Guess How Much the Royals Spend on Socks". Footwear News. FN. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  10. TURRILL, KATRINA. "Queen Elizabeth spends a whopping £16 on her socks - but WHERE does she get them". Express. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  11. Jessen, Monique. "Find Out Who Designed Prince George's Blue Jumper". People Babies. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  12. Dear, Alice. "The Queen spends much more money on socks than royal fans could ever have imagined". OK!. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  13. Laurie, Daniel. "Corgi Hosiery in Ammanford have created socks to raise funds for Manchester attack victims". South Wales Guardian. Guardian. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  14. "Corgi Hosiery fined over factory asbestos removal". BBC News. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  15. "Corgi Hosiery Ltd". www.royalwarrant.org. Royal Warrant Holders Association. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  16. RACHAEL, MISSTEAR. "Luxury sock factory Corgi Hosiery's extension gets the royal seal of approval with a visit from Prince Charles". Wales Online. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  17. Dodds, Laurence. "The Queen spends much more money on socks than royal fans could ever have imagined". The Telegraph. The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
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