Calzeat forays into retailing, to open first of 40 stores

17 Apr '09

2 min read

Calzeat, a Scotland based home textiles and fashion fabrics manufacturer, which was recently in the news for supplying fabrics to refurbish the White House, home to the President of US, is opening its first outlet in Edinburgh this month.

This is going to be the first shop in a list of 40 more shops in the pipeline across Scotland. The store opening is scheduled on April 24 and is considered a daring step in these depressing times, when consumers have dug their hands deep into their pockets.

Fibre2fashion spoke to Bob Galbraith, Marketing Director of Calzeat, to learn more about his business and the new retail venture. Mr Galbraith said, “Calzeat & Co Ltd, is a family owned/managed company that my father, Mr Robin Galbraith began in 1971 making fabric for men's neckties”.

“Since then, we have acquired many different companies and trading styles manufacturing both fashion and interior fabrics for the very high end global market and Calzeat, the parent company, is focusing on building the brand name”, he said.

He concluded by saying, “We are launching a new ecommerce website as well as opening retail outlets in Scotland offering the public the finest quality products at hugely discounted prices. All of which are exclusively designed in Scotland utilising our huge design archive”.

He hopes the new shop will boost retail sales by a further 30 percent and if it is successful will add more stores. Since, 30 years, Calzeat has supplied textiles to high-end fashion houses and home furnishing companies including Ralph Lauren, Burberry and John Lewis.

But around two years ago, Calzeat decided to focus more on its own-brand products and opened its first shop at its mill in South Lanarkshire. They have also worked with Scottish designers like Joey D and Deryck Walker and has had its fabrics featured in fashions shows in London and New York.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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