Halifax Born
THE WEAVING SHED
THE WEAVING SHED
The beating heart of our business, our wonderful mill is located atop the glorious South Pennine hills in West Yorkshire. It’s a region with textiles intricately woven through its unique and proud history.
Here, we operate the world’s last surviving and working John Crossley looms, each built over 150 years ago and requiring several years of training to use. These same looms are the ones that weave all of our 27” wide Brussels Wilton carpets today, and few things beat the unforgettable site and sound of them working their artistic magic. In fact, the visceral thrill of production is something felt and loved by everyone who works here.
2021 FACTORY RELOCATION TIMELINE
YARNS AND MATERIALS
Provenance reigns supreme at Avena, so in the spirit of authenticity we only ever use premium quality 100% British woollen spun and worsted yarns. These are spun and hank dyed right here in ‘God’s own county’ of Yorkshire. Even our looms’ pile wires and other consumables are sourced locally. Also, because our carpets are genuine woven products, they don’t use backing materials. It means that still to this day, the only other materials used in any significant amount are natural cottons and jute.
SUSTAINABILITY
There’s more to this approach than simply staying true to our origins. While our methods and products are steeped in tradition, we’re a thoroughly modern business with an ethos to match. Our love of the natural world informs this ethos, so we use LED bulbs to light up the mill and a local firm to recycle waste yarns into carpet underlay and hanging baskets.
Discover the Wonders of Wool
This informative booklet, Understanding Wool Fibre, explores the remarkable qualities and benefits of wool as a natural, sustainable fibre. From its origins as a renewable resource grown on sheep to its diverse applications in fashion, interiors, and flooring, wool is celebrated for its durability, eco-friendliness, and unique performance characteristics. Learn how wool regulates humidity, resists flames and stains, and even contributes to a healthier indoor environment. Backed by The Campaign for Wool, this guide highlights why wool is a smart, stylish, and sustainable choice for modern living. Click to read more and uncover the timeless appeal of this extraordinary natural fibre.
Premium British Wool
This booklet showcases British Wool’s commitment to sustainability, animal welfare, and quality. With over 60 UK sheep breeds, traceable sourcing, and eco-friendly practices, British Wool sets global standards. Discover its six pillars—from non-mulesed wool to carbon-neutral goals—and why it’s the responsible choice for fashion and interiors.
OUR PEOPLE
That our team has 250 years’ combined experience is remarkable enough. What’s truly extraordinary is that we’re a company of only fifteen.
Machines and materials form only half of our remarkable story, since our production team is equally special. These are highly skilled Yorkshire folk who learnt the ropes often decades ago, and whose devotion to their work and commitment to quality remain as strong today as ever.
Our uniquely experienced team includes loom weavers, creelers, menders, seamers and fitters, each of whom has honed their time-honoured skills to perfection. We’re passing our passion to new generations too, keeping traditions alive by sharing skills through apprenticeships.
RICHARD HUGHES
Richard is our MD and owner: a boss as likely to be found hand- stitching one of our bespoke carpets as he is poring over a spreadsheet. Richard has worked in the industry since the age of 15, initially fitting luxury carpets all over the world for customers including royal households and leading designers. He’s thrived in the sector ever since, and it’s his vision and drive that have helped rescue Avena and revitalise the business.
RACHEL TIGHE
You could say that Avena runs in Rachel’s genes, since her father, John, was an ambitious founding member of the original business. Rachel has clocked up a quarter of a century working in the sector, and today she’s our busy Design Manager. With an eye for colour and pattern and a brilliant knack for taking briefs, no one is more familiar with our bespoke service and iconic archived designs.
GARY CHARLES
When Gary initially joined Avena, we were in the original premises in Denholme. He has since been involved in the textiles industry for 5 decades, and is now our valued Production Manager. What Gary doesn’t know about our looms, isn’t worth knowing, and we’re fortunate that this knowledge is being passed to the next generation.
