John Horsfall FOCUS ON


This year marks the 150th anniversary of family-owned airline textile specialists John Horsfall. Onboard Hospitality asked for the secrets to its success through five generations


John Horsfall Founded in 1863 by John Horsfall himself, the firm originally manufactured woollen cloth and domestic blankets and moved to its current home in West Yorkshire, UK, in 1896. Today, the company supplies many major international airlines and is one of the world's leading airline textile manufacturers. It is led by Peter Horsfall Benson – the fifth generation of the Horsfall family and now has offices and production facilities in China and India. The company's UK head office is still based in the same mill, in the centrer of the historical textile region of West Yorkshire. johnhorsfall.com


has succeeded where others have failed and has gone from strength to strength, riding the waves of history through the past 150 years. You may be familiar with its range onboard but did you know that during the First World War its products were also part of the war effort, or that through the difficult trading years of the 1930s, the company became the only blanket manufacturer to survive in the Halifax area. In the Second World War John Horsfall manufactured wool blankets for the Admiralty, as well as a very heavy wool cloth called 'Fearnought' which was used for lining ammunition boxes. Placing great importance on textile understanding and innovation, all the company’s senior level staff hold textile qualifications as well as experience in the industry which has helped them to continue to succeed through each decade.


It was in the 1970s that, in addition to producing woollen bed blankets for the hotel and domestic markets, the company diversified into airline textiles. Its market became worldwide, with 70% of its UK-manufactured product being exported around the globe. This won John Horsfall recognition – it has received the Queen’s Award for Export three times, in 1993, 1998 and 1999.


To date the company has supplied over 60 airlines, and moving the main production overseas to China and India in 2004 allowed it to not only


Pictured: Modern-day Redwall designs from John Horsfall; the Horsfall family; the bygone wages book; fine lambswool for first class cabins


150 years of textiles D


espite dramatic changes to UK manufacturers, especially in textiles, John Horsfall


continue to provide large volumes at competitive prices, but to diversify its product area from just blankets into the full collection of in-cabin textile items including duvets, bedlinen, pillows, table linen and other passenger comfort items. It has extended its textile range to offer products made from materials such as cotton and polyester, through to fine silk and cashmere, and even newer materials like bamboo.


The team is proud of its rich textile heritage and still retains a small but skilled production workforce and sampling facility in the UK. This mainly produces fine lambswool blankets for first class cabins and private jets, but is also fundamental in the product development process for any


new project - allowing the in-house design team to trial new designs and provide customers with a quick and efficient sample turn-around, whatever the requirements. The company attributes its success to hard work, adaptability and dedication and believes more of the same will secure its position in the future of airline textiles.


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