FROM the box office smash Love Actually and the smartest of hotels to the chicest of Tokyo stores you will find Melin Tregwynt.
The Pembrokeshire designers and weavers have not just got designs on the exclusive textile market; they have got it covered, literally.
Founded by current partner Eifion Griffiths weaver-grandfather back in 1912 when he moved to Pembrokeshire looking for a mill to buy and develop, Melin Tregwynt has woven its way into the very fabric of international design.
The Haverfordwest company has created special designs for companies like Designers Guild, Conran, Mulberry, Descamps, Nordstrom, Martha Stewart Living, Early Learning Co, John Lewis and House 0f Fraser.
The list of hotels the company has supplied includes such prestigious establishments as the Hempel, the Athenaeum, the Lowry Hotel, the Brigstow and the Tresanton Hotel in England. In Wales clients include Castell Deudraeth, the Harbourmaster Hotel, Llety Boddfa and the St David's Hotel. Recent work has included the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles and the Hotel Astoria in St. Petersburg, the sister hotel to Rocco Forte’s St David’ Hotel & Spa, Cardiff.
Mr Griffiths said the company has also supplied products to well-known individuals and Melin Tregwynt throws and cushions have appeared in a number of films and television shows, such as the Jonathan Ross show and Love Actually.
Retail stores and distributors in Japan include Sony Plaza and Sazaby while in the past the company has supplied Barneys, New York, Bergdorf Goodman, ABC Home, Crate & Barrell and Portico.
Although clearly now the height of style, Mr Griffiths said that being a Welsh weaver was not always an advantage in the fickle world of fashions.
Eifion runs the business with his wife Amanda, having taken over the reins from his father in the 1980s who in turn had been in charge throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s.
“When I first started in the business it was actually a disadvantage to be Welsh as traditional Welsh fabrics were seen as very dated and not stylish at all. This was a legacy of the 70s when the Welsh mills had made doublecloths primarily for the tourist industry and had competed on price rather than quality or design.“
Mr Griffiths said the development of the company was influenced by seeing the Ralph Lauren shop in New York’s Madison Avenue. “We introduced blankets designed more in the Shaker tradition rather than the Welsh. It wasn’t until the late 90s that we reinvented the traditional Welsh doublecloth with our Madison and Mondo designs.
“Nowadays traditional Welsh doublecloths are seen as very stylish again and I hope that we have helped in some small way to make Welsh fabrics fashionable and desirable again.”
Mr Griffiths said that being a small family-owned Welsh company, however, has always been an advantage as it adds to the company’s uniqueness in the eyes of the customer. “Today this seems to be even more important particularly with our overseas customers. We are currently re-branding ourselves in order to emphasize this uniqueness.”
Mr Griffiths said the business enjoyed growth and expansion in terms of staff and turnover during the 1980s and 1990s to around £600,000. But recent years had been more difficult for manufacturers and Melin Tregwynt had downsized from its peak of 25 people employees to the current 20. While turnover is now approximately £500,000 per annum this is producing higher margins for the business.
The original mill premises have remained the same size but three-phase electricity, new machinery and IT systems have been installed. The business now has a retail outlet in Cardiff in addition to the Millshop in Pembrokeshire. Business is also now driven through a mail order catalogue and a website.
The strength of Sterling is affecting exports, particularly stores in the United States and Mr Griffiths said the best overseas market is Japan. “We have established good relationships with some major hotel chains in the United States that use our products in their refurbishment and new build projects. Trade sales have declined as a percentage of total sales, but the increased retail sales give us better margins.”
The company’s main products were until recently blankets, bedspreads, throws and cushions particularly for the home market. But Mr Griffiths said recent Japanese customers have asked for accessories and garments from Melin Tregwynt fabrics and so a range for sale both in Japan and the U.K is now being developed.
Success has been attributed to luck, good design, traditional quality, an ability to produce bespoke products in small batches, knowledge of the market and its needs and a willingness to keep trying new ideas and respond to customer requests. And, in the words of Mr Griffiths, through “grim determination”.
“We have where possible and adapting production and materials to prevent imitators, create a recognizable brand and create premium products with added value.
“We try, where possible to be innovative and flexible and to use a wide range of different materials and techniques and we are exploring the possibilities of licensing products and new ways of reaching our customers.”
Eifion Griffiths, Partner, Melin Tregwynt, Castlemorris, Haverfordwest
Pembrokeshire SA62 5UX. Office Tel: 01348 891 225. Fax: 01348 891 694. Millshop: 01348 891 288 Mail-order 01348 891 644
Email: eifion@melintregwynt.co.uk Web:http://www.melintregwynt.co.uk
