Manchester’s nickname ‘Cottonopolis’ derived from the city’s status as the international capital of cotton and textile trade during the 19th century. It retains the name thanks to a booming textile industry alive today.
Private White V.C. is a British heritage clothing brand made right here in Manchester. It’s a brand that celebrates the best of British tailoring and you can tour their factories for free!
As you can imagine, it’s not somewhere I want to spend every weekend – but I do pop down now and again when they have a sample sale on (bargains!) and I’ve done the tour twice. It’s a fascinating insight into clothing manufacturing and it’s rare to get such an up-close-and-personal view of such processes. The guides are great and they take you through the various rooms, from pattern cutting to clothing archives. There’s also a shop at the end where you can treat yourself – I always do. You might even get to meet Brutus the British bulldog, who patrols the office keeping an eye on quality control!
Tours are free and at set times – I’d suggest emailing first to check it’s running so you’re not disappointed.
