YARMOUTH OILSKINS – Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
The Heritage: Founded in 1898 on the quayside of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Yarmouth Stores Ltd was originally established to manufacture heavy-duty maritime clothing for the frankly brutal herring-fishing industry. At their absolute peak before the Second World War, the company employed over 1,200 machinists, famously staying open until 11 pm to kit out the fleets of Scottish so-called "herring girls" with the waterproof skirts, aprons and boots they required to gut and pack the catch. Surviving the decline of the fisheries in the twentieth century by pivoting to supply North Sea gas rig crews in the 1960s, the business has miraculously remained in its original quayside factory for over 125 years.
The Verdict: Yarmouth Oilskins represents the gold standard in the UK’s heritage workwear revival. When the fashion industry developed an appetite for vintage workwear, Yarmouth Oilskins didn't simply offshore their production or find the need to fabricate a heritage backstory - instead, they simply opened up their archives, dusted off the original patterns and produced them again on the original factory floor. Operating with a tight-knit team of around highly skilled, long-serving machinists, they champion a strict "wear in, not wear out" philosophy. They use 100% natural, durable fibres and finish their garments with British-made Corozo buttons to produce timeless and robust garments that genuinely improve with age. It’s authentic and unpretentious UK manufacturing at its finest.
Core Products: Authentic archival workwear, including the traditional hooded Fisher Smock, the 1930s-inspired Driver Jacket, classic chore coats and traditional double-pleated work trousers.
