 | |
| Industry | clothing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1888 |
| Founder | Lewis Haslam |
| Headquarters | , UK |
| Website | aertex |
Aertex was a British clothing company based inManchester, established in 1888, and also is the name of thefabric manufactured by that company. The Aertex company owned thetrademark for Aertex fabric, a lightweight and looselywovencotton material that is used to make shirts and underwear.[1]
In the late 19th century Lewis Haslam, aLancashire mill owner and politician, began to link the partnering of holes and warmth and with two medical colleagues, began experimenting with aeration; trapping air within thewarp and weft of fabric. The result was a fabric that provided a barrier between the warmth of the skin and the chill of the atmosphere and in 1888 they formed the Aertex Company. DuringWorld War II the British Women'sLand Army wore Aertex as part of their uniform and all the British and Commonwealth land forces in theFar East andMiddle East wore Aertex bush shirts and jackets. These uniforms were designated as Jungle Green for the Far East andKhaki Drill for the Middle East.
Soon after the end of the Second World War,Princess Elizabeth andPrincess Margaret were reported to be wearing Aertex shirts.[2]
In 1959 Aertex, together withOvaltine, sponsored the 'All New Netball Associations' coaching film. By the 1960s Aertex became a sports and school wear manufacturer in the UK, across a range of sports includingtennis,cricket,netball andfootball.[3][4][5] The England football squad wore Aertex fabric jerseys manufactured byUmbro during the1970 World Cup in Mexico.[6][7]