Wool furnishings firm gets nod as best gift

COMPANY founder . . . Katie Mallalieu

A SADDLEWORTH home furnishings and apparel firm specialising in wool products has been nominated in the Giftware Association's Gift of the Year 2017 awards.

Bailey Laine makes lambswool throws and decorative cushions that have been nominated in the awards' Made in UK category.

The news comes as the Delph-based business celebrates its first year of trading and a series of listings in some of the UK's best independent home furnishing stores.

Company founder Katie Mallalieu launched the business in 2015 with a range of wool cushions and has developed product range to include lampshades, throws and women's woolen capes. The cushions are designed by husband-and-wife artists Victor and Lucy Sanders.

Katie is also a keen advocate of supporting women in business, small and medium enterprises and British manufacturing, and has been recognised for this through receiving Jacqueline Gold CBE's Woman of the Week Award in August 2015.

She said: "Following my departure from teaching, I worked for my family's wool manufacturing business, Mallalieus of Delph. After some months, I realised I wanted to combine Mallalieus' wool manufacturing expertise and experience with my creative side and Bailey Laine was born.

"Our first year of trading has been hard work but reaped many rewards. We've been successful in expanding our product lines and have secured listings in independent stores across the country."

The awards feature 22 categories and the final winners will be announced on February 5.

Katie added: "Feedback from retail stores and customers has been so positive that we'll be launching new designs in our popular lambswool throws in 2017."

Family-run Mallalieus of Delph was founded in 1863 and produces finished cloth using 100 per cent British wool. Founded by two brothers, the firm has modernised its facilities over recent decades and diversified.