Exhibition will explore Horrockses' style legacy

People who remember an iconic Lancashire fashion brand are being invited to share their stories ahead of a museum exhibition later this year.

Horrockses Fashions was founded by John Horrocks, who built his first cotton mill on Dale Street in Preston in 1791.

By the mid-1940s, Horrockses had launched a fashion label that was adored by the late Queen Elizabeth II, who had first pick of every collection and wore its clothes before they went on sale to the public.

The free exhibition, which will open from 19 September at the Harris Museum in Preston, will feature 60 dresses that were much loved by women from all walks of life due to their affordability, practicality, glamour and easy care.

Central to Horrockses' success was its approach to textile design, collaborating with leading artists and designers to create distinctive fabrics that elevated ready-to-wear fashion into a form of wearable art.

Bold florals, graphic geometrics and striking modernist motifs appeared on the brand's full-skirted silhouettes.

Horrockses sent its designers to Paris, who copied Dior's nipped waists and couture principles before making far more affordable dresses in cotton.

Famously, Queen Elizabeth II packed several Horrockses cotton dresses for her 1953-54 Commonwealth tour.

Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Kent were also fans of the brand.

Horrockses sent designers to study the Paris collections, hired graduates from the Royal College of Art, and produced two collections a year - 160 dresses each time -at prices ordinary women could aspire to own.

Its dresses cost about a week's wages for the average worker, meaning that they were often chosen for honeymoons and special occasions.

This autumn's exhibition, curated by fashion historian Scott Schiavone, will feature 60 dresses.

Alongside them will be original sample sheets, fabric swatches, design books, and photography that show how the label worked from the inside.

The team at The Harris would love to hear from anyone with a connection to Horrockses - whether that means memories of working at the mill or wearing a dress that has been passed down through the family.

Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour and the Art of British Ready-to-Wear - will run from 19 September 2026 to 31 January 2027 at The Harris Museum in Preston.

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