Avoca Handweavers facts for kids
Hand weaving machine in use at the Mill
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| Private | |
| Industry | Textile and clothing manufacturing, retail, cafés |
| Founded | 1723 |
| Headquarters | Kilmacanogue, County Wicklow, Ireland |
| Products | Clothes, other woollen goods, soft furnishings, food, ceramics, books, soaps & perfumes |
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Number of employees
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1,000 (2020) |
| Parent | Aramark |
Avoca Handweavers, often called just Avoca, is a well-known Irish company. They make clothes, sell many different products, and even have cafes! It started in Avoca, County Wicklow, and is the oldest working wool mill in Ireland. It's even one of the oldest manufacturing companies in the whole world! Since 2015, an American company called Aramark has owned Avoca.
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History of Avoca
The Avoca mill has been around since at least 1723. It sits right by the fast-flowing River Avoca. Back then, it was hard to travel to and from the village. People often traded goods instead of using money. The mill helped grind corn for bread. It also spun and wove wool into cloth.
In 1760, a new machine arrived: the flying shuttle loom. This loom could weave up to 20 metres of cloth every day! Some workers worried they might lose their jobs. Because of this, they sadly burned some of the looms.
The Wynne Sisters Take Over
In the 1920s, three sisters, Emily, Winifred, and Veronica Wynne, took over the mill. They brought lots of bright colours to Avoca's designs. They started making a special fabric called Avoca tweed. This tweed was so popular that it was sent all over the world! Even famous Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli used it. The fabric was also used for a waistcoat for King George VI. Baby blankets for the children of Queen Elizabeth II were also made from Avoca tweed.
The Pratt Family's Time
In 1974, the mill was going to close down. A lawyer named Donald Pratt was hired to help sell it. But instead, he decided to buy it himself! He and his wife, Hilary, worked hard to make Avoca Handweavers successful again.
The Pratts started selling their handwoven rugs and throws to the UK and other countries. Avoca throws are still sold all around the world today. In 2015, the Pratt family sold Avoca Handweavers to the American company Aramark.
Avoca Today with Aramark
As of 2020, Avoca has many shops across Ireland. You can find them at places like Powerscourt Estate, Malahide Castle, and in Belfast. Many of these shops also have food halls and cafes. This is because Avoca has grown its food business a lot.
Avoca also has several clothing lines for women. They sell these in their own stores. They also sell them to other shops in Ireland and around the world. One of these clothing lines is called 'Avoca Anthology'.
Avoca is also known for its beautiful gardens. Their main location in Kilmacanogue has some rare trees. They also have a garden at Mount Usher Gardens in Ashford, County Wicklow. In 2020, the company employed about 1,000 people.
Images for kids
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A machine weaving fabric at the Avoca Mill
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The beautiful grounds around the Avoca mill
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A label on an Avoca alpaca scarf
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Avoca clothing on display
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