Title: Glove Girls and Goodwood Dreams
Tracing the history of Somerset’s glove industry — and my hopes to bring glove-making home to What Katie Did.
Four years ago, I made the move to Somerset—well, part-time. These days, I split my time between our What Katie Did HQ in Berkshire, where I tackle all things digital and admin, and my sewing room in Somerset, where I escape into hands-on creativity. Having two dedicated spaces for my two very different skill sets has been a game-changer. It stops me from veering too far into one world or the other, and it’s also given me the chance to dive deeper into the rich industrial heritage of Somerset—a county with far more fashion history than most people realise.
Everyone knows Somerset is the home of Clarks shoes and Mulberry handbags, but the county’s links to fashion go much further back. Historically, Somerset produced lace, wool, silk and leather, much of it destined for London to be made into fine garments. With so much leather being processed here, it’s little surprise that Clarks set up shop in Street in 1825 (their HQ is still there, and a shoe museum is due to open this September—yes, I’ll be first in line!). But what really caught my attention recently was Somerset’s glove-making past.
While Dents might be the best-known name today—still based here, though most of their production is offshore—the glove industry in Somerset used to be huge. In the 19th century, thousands of women worked as "glove girls," sewing from home and delivering finished pieces weekly. In small towns like Langport, near my sewing studio, glove-making was a mainstay of the local economy. Even those working in glove factories often had sewing machines at home so they could continue working into the evenings and weekends — not out of choice, but because they needed every extra penny to cover the rent.
As someone obsessed with the history of fashion, especially where it overlaps with my own work, I couldn’t resist diving deeper. At What Katie Did, we’ve long sold vintage-inspired gloves, made in China. It’s the only factory we work with that I haven’t personally visited—a fact that has always sat uneasily with me, even though they tick all the necessary ethical boxes. A few years ago, I started looking for a UK glove manufacturer. Dents, while helpful, don’t make fabric gloves domestically anymore, and I came up empty-handed—until a few weeks ago.
During another rabbit-hole research session (I do love a rabbit hole), I came across a Somerset factory still making fabric gloves in the UK. The initial prices looked promising—suspiciously so—and earlier this week I visited them to see what might be possible.
Walking into the factory was like stepping back in time. It's been in the same location since the mid-1800s, and there were reminders of its long history everywhere: Festival of Britain gloves from 1951 proudly displayed in the meeting room, and vintage sewing machines still in daily use. Unfortunately, my suspicions were confirmed—the prices I’d seen were for clearing old stock at a loss. Manufacturing new gloves there would cost triple what we currently pay.
It’s a dilemma I’ve faced before. A few years ago, I visited a knitwear factory that made pieces for Chanel. I wanted to work with them so badly, but the sums just didn’t add up. And now I find myself at another crossroads—can I make this work? Maybe I can’t triple our glove prices, but could I double them? If customers are willing to pay over £30 for a pair of fully-fashioned stockings, might they do the same for beautifully made, British gloves?
The next hurdle is fabric. I’ve got some ideas, but it has to be just right—price, colour, feel. Everything matters. I’d love to have a limited run of What Katie Did gloves made here in the UK in time to have in our shop at the Goodwood Revival this September. It would feel like closing a loop—bringing a piece of fashion history back to life, right where it started.
So for now, fingers crossed. Quite literally.
Links:
Clark’s Shoe Museum Street, Somerset (opening September 2025
Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury, Somerset
Mulberry History
Gloving in Langport, Somerset
Goodwood Revival Vintage motorsport event where we have a pop up shop
Katie Thomas is the founder of What Katie Did, a vintage-inspired lingerie and fashion brand that brings mid-century glamour to modern wardrobes. When not designing new collections, she can be found hunting for vintage treasures across Somerset and beyond.
Curious to explore more vintage-inspired treasures? Our lovingly crafted lingerie and fashion collections at What Katie Did bring the elegance of yesteryear into your modern wardrobe, from perfectly structured corsets to the most delicate of intimates. Each piece tells its own story of timeless glamour.
I loved reading this and would be one of the first in line for the shoe museum too. And I would definitely be buying your gloves when you source them.