Wyedean’s skills legacy passes to next generation

More than 40 years of sewing and embroidery experience is being shared with a new generation as a giant of the military Colours and Standards ceremonial items retires.

Aileen Henderson, embroidery supervisor at Haworth-based Wyedean Weaving, is stepping down after 46 years in the textile industry. Aileen, who has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list, is recognised nationally for her outstanding contribution to the production of military ceremonial items, including her work on the Colours and Standards created for the Coronation of King Charles III.

Aileen began her working life as a machinist, developing traditional textile skills that would later underpin her specialist career. For the past decade, she has held the role of supervisor and pattern-making technician for military Colours and Standards (military flags), produced by Wyedean for Ministry of Defence ceremonial contracts.

Her project leadership culminated in 2023, when she and her team spent six months hand embroidering the elaborate fabrics required for the Coronation. Their craftsmanship and commitment were recognised with the King’s Coronation Medal, and in December it was announced that Aileen herself had been made an MBE for her dedication to the work.

Alongside British military commissions, Aileen has worked on some of Wyedean’s most prestigious contracts, playing a central role in creating more than 100 Colours and Standards worldwide.

While preparing for retirement, Aileen has been working alongside Wyedean’s newest sewing technician and embroiderer, Isabelle Hinchliffe (22), ensuring her specialist knowledge and skills are passed on.

Aileen said: “After being inspired to knit by my nan and learning to use a sewing machine at the age of 10, I started work as a uniform machinist at 18, making ceremonial uniforms for the military.

“While I’m largely self-taught, being left-handed meant I spent a lot of time with my nan, mastering knitting techniques and skills which inspired me to be creative and take this career route.”

Colours and Standards are hand sewn by Wyedean’s skilled team using silks, silver and gilt threads. First introduced in the 1700s, they were originally used as battlefield markers to help soldiers identify their regiment. Today, they remain highly symbolic, carrying the names of battle honours alongside the dates and locations of key engagements.

“What started as my hobby became a career which even led to meeting King Charles when he consecrated the Sovereign Standard we created for his Coronation,” Aileen reflected. “He commented on the good work we’d done and apologised for not giving us much time to do it!”

She added: “Each Colour or Standard stays true to its original, which may have been created hundreds of years ago. Every thread we embroider and every stitch we sew tells a story. They may just look like flags to some people, but to our armed forces they represent history and remembrance.”

Isabelle’s own journey into textiles mirrors Aileen’s in many ways. She was taught to knit by her grandmother and, like Aileen, has had to adapt as a left-handed embroiderer in a traditionally right-handed craft, becoming increasingly ambidextrous as she develops her skills.

“After studying fashion and textiles at GCSE and A-Level, I studied textile practice at Huddersfield University and it was there I heard that Wyedean was recruiting.”

She added: “Creating unique designs which tell their own story is incredibly fulfilling. Here, every stitch matters, every design has meaning and it’s fascinating to learn why things are done a certain way. I’ve learnt so much from Aileen, including techniques like through-and-through embroidery, which uses a mirror so the battle honours read correctly on both sides of a Colour or Standard.”

Inspired by her mentor, Isabelle hopes to continue the tradition of skill-sharing in the future. “I see myself in Aileen’s position one day, passing these skills on to the next generation so our country’s military history continues to be recognised.”

Wyedean was founded in 1964 by David Wright, who ran the Haworth-based business with his father Frank Wright, a former textile machine designer awarded an MBE for inventing a yarn spinning technique known as centrifugal spinning. Now a four-generation family business, Wyedean’s customers include the British Ministry of Defence, the Metropolitan Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Armed Forces.

Wyedean’s Managing Director Robin Wright said: “Aileen has played a pivotal role in ensuring we continue to produce the highest quality military regalia and we are indebted to her for passing on her unique skills to Isabelle.

“We wish Aileen the happiest of retirements and our congratulations on being awarded her much deserved MBE. After such a rewarding career, we’re proud to have been part of her incredible story.”