It experienced a resurgence in the 19th century when Queen Victoria ordered a handmade Honiton lacework bridal gown for her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840.
Continuing this proud textiles tradition is the regular Honiton Textile and Costume Fair, run by West Country-based Hyson Fairs, who this month celebrates 30 years as fair organiser. Held in the town’s Mackarness Hall, the next fair is on Tuesday, February 6.
A regular here is West Country textiles dealer Liz van Hasselt, who said: “As always we take a range of fabric from £5-40 a piece, as well as trimmings, buttons and haberdashery. Our vintage bolts of bright blue heavy cotton cost £45 a bolt.”
Van Hasselt also runs her own pop-up textiles and costume fairs with the next at the Lydeard St Lawrence village hall, near Taunton in Somerset on Saturday, February 10. For details contact Van Hasselt via her blog.
