Please note, we will shut on Friday 20th of December at 4pm. We will reopen Thursday 2nd January 2025 at 8:30am. Orders will be processed and shipped once we reopen.
Please note, we will shut on 20/12/24, we will re-open 02/01/25 at 8:30am. Orders will be processed and shipped once we reopen.
Over 150 Years of Experience
About Whaleys Fabrics
Whaleys was established in 1869 by Mr Samuel Whaley, about whom not a great deal is known. The activities of his enterprise at that time were silk and jute weaving, with one floor processing textile sacks and bags.
Over 150 Years of History
We are a UK-based textile supplier with over 150 years of heritage. We provide a diverse range of fabrics and materials for various industries.
1898
Whaleys Bradford Limited is established by Mr Samuel Whaley.
Not a great deal is known about Mr Samuel Whaley; the activities of his enterprise at that time were silk and jute weaving, with one floor processing textile sacks and bags.
1908
Whaleys moves to new premises on Bolton Road, Bradford.
The original premises were off Leeds Road in Bradford, West Yorkshire, before moving to Bolton road in 1908, finally taking over its present site, Harris Court Mills in 1973.
1900
Harry Jowett takes over Whaleys Bradford Limited.
Harry Jowett was the great-grandfather of the present Managing Director. During the First World War, weaving was suspended and silk making abandoned. When normal work recommenced an industrial fabric section was established to furnish the textile finishing industry.
1921
Harry Jowett's sons-in-law take over Whaleys just before his death.
Just before Harry Jowett’s death in 1921, the firm was taken over by his two sons in law, Fred Popplewell (MD, on photo above) and James Robert McIlvenny.
1945
Whaleys Bradford: a fourth generation family business.
After the last world war Fred and James Robert were joined by James’ sons, Harry and James Fredrick, eventually being joined by James Frederick’s son and Managing Director, Peter, who now represents the fourth generation.
Present Day
Over the years the company has expanded and diversified.
It has introduced a department which specialises in producing theatre curtains along with a range of flame proofed fabrics, in addition to a large fashion fabric section supplying fabric designers direct. It is interesting to note that this includes offering Silk again, after an absence of 70 years!
£4.12 – £8.96Select options
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Over 600 Fabric References Available
Over 150 Years of Experience
Worldwide Delivery Available
Jean Challiner
14/11/2024
Beautiful quality fabric. Exceeded my expectations. Arrived very quickly and well packaged. Will definitley order from Whaleys again. Thank you.
MAZ Property LTD Mazurkiewychz
17/10/2024
Excellent Fabrics, service second to none. One of Bradford’s longest Fabrics suppliers. QUALITY…
Mary Macdonald
15/08/2024
I have used Whaleys for over 25 years!!!!!!
Ordering fabrics for school and my own business for 12 years.
The information on each fabric is informative and it’s so easy to get samples if required. The fabrics are excellent quality and very competitive price wise. The service is second to none.
They are fab!!!!!
Asiya Asiya
29/07/2024
Brian Hughes
10/07/2024
Has I work alone , single items, they were very helpful when my input failed due to the update of the website,
Thank you 🙏 B.Hughes, Mid Wales
Nicola FRANKLIN
27/06/2024
Thank you Whalley's for another great service. Our new studio drapes are exactly what we asked for and arrived very quickly
JaiMelancholia
21/04/2024
I've been happily buying from Whaleys Bradford for years and love the range they offer