Anyone heard of the maker Viyella?

[VMan]

Just picked up a casual shirt today made by a firm called Viyella. The shirt is quite gorgeous - tan with an overcheck of black and brick red. 50/50 Wool/Cotton blend, and very soft. It has thick MOP buttons as well. It's made in England and has the HRH seal like T&A shirts.

Anyone know anything about this?

 

[mack11211]

Historically, they have been a maker of wool/cotton fabrics. Perhaps now they make shirts as well.

The fabric is nice until you wash it as cotton and it shrinks down one size. Beware.

 

[VMan]

Historically, they have been a maker of wool/cotton fabrics. Perhaps now they make shirts as well.

The fabric is nice until you wash it as cotton and it shrinks down one size. Beware.

Well it was pre-worn and tagged as a size 38. It fits perfectly, quite slim. It's not my normal style, but it's just a great shirt. The pattern is really growing on me, and I love the feel of the fabric. Maybe I'll shake off my streetwear habits one time by wearing it with some charcoal flannels, my chocolate brown C&J's from Marc G, and a 3/4 length corduroy coat. A British look, I think.

 

[Will]

Viyella shirts are a classic choice for outdoor activities. 20% wool makes them great in cool weather.

 

[AlanC]

Yes, Viyella makes very nice shirts, sometimes you'll run into their ties at a thrift store. Ben Silver carries various Viyella items I'm pretty sure. I'd really like to get a Viyella robe. I still regret the Viyella shirt I didn't get at the thrift store that time. Saw one recently but it had moth holes.

Good pick up, VM.

 

[JLibourel]

Back in my prep school and college days I wore Viyella shirts all the time. As I recall, Viyella was the fabric, but I don't remember who the shirtmaker was. I am virtually certain that the percentage of wool in the shirts I wore was much higher than 20%. As I recall the wool-cotton percentages were 50-50 or 55-45--something like that. I think I did have a Viyella bathrobe at one time, but it was all so long ago.

 

[RJman]

I'd really like to get a Viyella robe.

Aaaaahh... Makes me think of Quilty in Lolita.

 

[Horace]

Yes, Viyella makes very nice shirts, sometimes you'll run into their ties at a thrift store. Ben Silver carries various Viyella items I'm pretty sure. I'd really like to get a Viyella robe. I still regret the Viyella shirt I didn't get at the thrift store that time. Saw one recently but it had moth holes.

Good pick up, VM.

Silver had a V iyella robe on their outlet section, sized M. Half-off or so.

 

[AlanC]

Originally Posted by AlanC,May 02 2005,19:45

I'd really like to get a Viyella robe.

Aaaaahh... Makes me think of Quilty in Lolita.

Maybe I should get a silk robe a la Hef.

 

[Etruscan]

I could well be mistaken, but I've always been of the impression that Viyella is not a brand in the sense of a manufacturer but rather a trade name for a wool-cotton blend. I'm quite sure I've seen it coexisting with a variety of makers' or designers' labels. Does this square with anyone else's recollection?

 

[VMan]

Here is a photo of the label:

 

[AlanC]

I think it began as a maker of the wool-cotton fabric itself, and has been (is?) used by other maker's of clothing. I believe that along the lines of Zegna they now produce their own clothing line (or have it done under their name). That's my supposition but I may be wrong about that.

 

[The Dandy]

I can't say I've had any experience with the shirts, but I have one of the company's robes, from Ben Silver. It's quite warm while also being light and breathable. However, the caveat is that it's really rather itchy.

 

[ROI]

I could well be mistaken, but I've always been of the impression that Viyella is not a brand in the sense of a manufacturer but rather a trade name for a wool-cotton blend. Â I'm quite sure I've seen it coexisting with a variety of makers' or designers' labels. Â Does this square with anyone else's recollection?

Viyella has been through many incarnations over the past 25 or so years. The (fairly) consistent element has been that Viyella was a brand name owned by a succession of European and Japanese mills. The rights to manufacture under the name Viyella and to market garments under the name Viyella have been passed around like a Wellesley girl visiting Dartmouth. At one time, the Viyella name was associated with the 55% wool/45% cotton blend and was confined to Gant shirts. The alternative blend 80% cotton/20% wool was marketed as "Lochlana" through Hathaway shirts, though it was simultaneously available at Brooks Brothers as "Brooksflannel." After several years absence from the US market, Viyella reappeared (in the version offered by Ben Silver) under license to octogenarian Miller Harris,the past owner of Eagle Shirts, under the name Spinnerstown Shuttle. He has been importing the 80/20 version of the cloth from a Japanese mill owned by William Hollins, an English textile firm, and having it made up at Brooks' shirt plant in Garland NC. I've heard that Silver bought the goods through the shirt maker and had ties made independently. The source for the robes is obscure, though Brooks has made pajamas and robes in the Garland plant. Viyella Patterns at D Dann

 

[VMan]

Thanks for all the info, guys. The shirt I have is of the 55% wool 45% cotton variety.