A WORKWEAR company from Thornbury celebrated more than 160 years of history with a special fashion event in Bristol.

Alexandra, which is based on Thornbury’s industrial estate, hosted the show at the M Shed on the waterfront on Wednesday, February 8, to celebrate the publication of a new book exploring their history, co-produced with Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives.

Guests were treated to a unique film created by Pathe news organisation, charting the social and history milestones of the company, followed by a catwalk show which featured re-created history garments from the company’s history and a live panel forum on the future of workwear.

Alexandra was founded in 1854 as a drapers shop on Whiteladies Road, Bristol, and named after Princess Alexandra of Denmark, the future wife of King Edward VII.

In its time, it has supported the emergence of women in the workforce; selling fabric to make the uniforms for voluntary aid detachments who nursed injured soldiers in World War I and going on to develop protective workwear for assorted industries including munitions, agriculture, engineering, catering, business and healthcare.

Martin Lyne, managing director of Alexandra, said the company was inspired by its own archive to publish a history of the company.

He said: “Thanks to the foresight of the Davis family, who founded Alexandra, and recognised the shift in women’s roles through the 19th and 20th century, we have a wonderful archive which we wanted to share with customers, colleagues, suppliers and the wider community.

“It demonstrates the role we have played in the development of the modern workplace, especially in the lives of working women, and gives us an opportunity to look back on how our business has changed.” 

The catwalk show included 12 re-created uniforms dating back to the early 1900s, included both male and female garments, complete with period hair and makeup, from nursing, business and industry.

Catherine Littlejohns, senior curator of social history at Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives added: “The company’s development mirrors a time of growth and prosperity in Bristol - a prosperity that has helped shape much of the city and the region today.

The history of the drapers shop captures the lives of both the wealthy Edwardian ladies in Bristol who shopped at Alexandra and the young women who worked there.

Both were changed forever through the impact of war, as the development of industry and changes in the old social order saw women taking up professional roles such as nursing, manufacturing and government administration.

“It’s a special snapshot and a fascinating insight into a time of great change.”