Fashion designer Alex Mullins chooses Hainsworth for collection

Menswear designer Alex Mullins, whose designs incorporate natural fibres into bold panelled coats, used Hainsworth’s Harlequin blanket fabric for a key item of his latest collection.

The designer previewed the camel blanket coat at London Collections: Men earlier this year. The item will retail at around £1,200.

Mr Mullins said the Hainsworth mill has the “best range of colours, lovely fabrics and the highest quality finish”.

He said: “I’ve been using their cloth most years ever since I was a young fashion designer.

“Blanket coats are really current this year and the fabric was great to work with – thick, woolly and with a homely feel.”

He added: “Using British brands is extremely important to me and what makes Hainsworth extra special is their rich history and strong links with the military.”

Hainsworth managing director Tom Hainsworth said the mill has been supplying fabric to Mr Mullins since he was a design student.

The company is working with other high fashion designers including Christopher Raeburn, Jenny Schwarz, Katie Eary, A Sauvage and Baartmans and Siegel.

It also has strong ties Savile Row, with Lee Marsh using the mill’s fabrics for his latest ready-to-wear collection.

Earlier this year, Hainsworth was praised for its commitment to innovation, as a major jobs boost was predicted for the industry. The Alliance Project said 20,000 new jobs could be created in the next five years.