Specialists in flame retardant fabrics - History

Our History

Pinewood Fabrics Ltd was founded in 1955 - by 'Pip' Ryan and 'Gerry' Slater. During the 1960's they moved the company from Amersham in Buckinghamshire to a pre Victorian Mill (California Mill) at Leek in Staffordshire.

Pinewood was a pioneer of Flame Retardant Fabrics - a market leader during the 1960's and 70's

'Pip' and 'Gerry' passed over the business to their sons Michael Ryan and Clive Slater in the late 70's and Pinewood split into 2 companies - Pinewood Fabrics Ltd and California Mill Ltd - the former continued to supply flame retardant fabrics whilst California Mill became a supplier of domestic (non flame retardant fabrics)

Throughout the 80's Pinewood continued to supply flame retardant fabrics - but the domestic market also grew and sales became 70% domestic. In 1993 Clive Slater left the company - leaving Michael Ryan as the sole owner until 1998 when he decided to sell the company.

He advised his biggest supplier - Schmitz Werke of Germany (the largest manufacturer of woven Trevira CS in Europe - with a turnover in excess of £60 million) of his intention to sell and they took over the company.

Michael Ryan left the company in 1999 and the California Mill name was dropped - the focus of the company returned to contract (flame retardant) fabrics although a small range of domestic fabrics are still sold.

In 2002 Pinewood Fabrics Ltd moved from the mill to new premises in the same town and continue to increase sales in flame retardant fabrics and in particular Trevira CS.

The turnover of Pinewood Fabrics Ltd is now 70% contract - and of that 70% over 65% is supplied in woven Trevira CS.