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OUR HERITAGE
The founding company of B. Cohen & Co., was established in Hanbury Street, Whitechapel, London, EC1 in 1876. At this time Hanbury Street was the epicentre of the Jewish community in East London. From the 1891 Census it is evident that the multiplicity of trades in this street was remarkable. They included; a licensed victualler, a fishmonger, a cap maker, nine tailors and six tailoresses, a china & glass dealer, a market porter, a van guard, a mantle maker, a purveyor of horse flesh, a moulder in clay, a rough packing case maker, a silver smith, a carman, a lighterman, an upholsterer... to name a few.
However, to "Londoners", Hanbury Street was the 'home' of the tailoring industry. Fittingly, the five Cohen brothers sold tailor's trimmings; cotton, needles, bias binding and all other requisites of the tailoring trade including linings.
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1940’s
As B. Cohen & Co. grew, it moved premises, first to Berwick Street and then to Upper James Street. By the 1940's the company concentrated almost exclusively on the sale of "synthetics" for use as linings for ladies and gentlemen's apparel.
B. Cohen & Co. pioneered the use of synthetic fabrics as lining materials and took the market by storm as these new fabrics were substituted for expensive silk.
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1940’s
The most basic building block of a polymer is a monomer, which, when combined with oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, or fluoride, becomes a "polymers". The most important polymer, for fabric construction is Polyethylene terephthalate, more commonly known as "polyester". The bright vibrant synthetic fabrics made from these synthetic "building blocks" exhibit a silk "handle"; and all the comfort properties of natural fibres, imitating silk, wool and linen.
As B. Cohen & Co. grew, it moved premises, first to Berwick Street and then to Upper James Street. By the 1940's the company concentrated almost exclusively on the sale of "synthetics" for use as linings for ladies and gentlemen's apparel.
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1950’s
By the 1950's B. Cohen & Co. along with Collins and Cawthorn, were the foremost merchant converters in Europe, with ranges of lining fabrics woven and dyed to their own specification. The major supplier of loom state fabric to both companies was Carrington & Dewhurst of Eccleston near Chorley; who were also innovators in the production of cellulosic and synthetic fibres. These complex fabrics were dyed by Thomas Robinson, a traditional northern dye house owned by B. Cohen & Co at Ramsbottom, Lancashire. Thomas Robinson, with the help of ICI, developed nylon and polyester as well as the futuristic spun fabric blends of viscose and acetate.
With their fine silk handle and vibrant colour these fabrics proved to be ideal for lining garments. It is estimated that around 1,700,000,000 garments were made with linings sold under the brand name Morada.
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1960’s
There are many allegorical and spurious stories surrounding the origin of the name "Morada"; some are quite humorous. However, given the dominance of the Morada brand in the use of synthetic fabrics, the name is believed to be derived from Monomer (MO), Rayon (RA), and Dacron (DA); the first fabrics with which the Cohen brothers built their iconic brand - MORADA.
By the 1960's Morada was a "banker brand" and the Cohen brothers operated from prestigious offices in Pulteney Street, London, W1. With no obvious succession the brothers sold the business to Carrington & Dewhurst.
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1970’s
There followed a rapid period of merger and acquisition.
At this time ICI was a major shareholder in Carrington & Dewhurst and also Viyella International. The two companies were later merged and Morada became a division of Carrington Viyella.
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1980’s
In the 1980's, Sir David Alliance appeared on the scene with his fledging company Vantona. Vantona made an audacious bid for a company eight times its size; Carrington Viyella, who by then were manufactures of garments, home furnishings, carpets and fabrics. Morada, Dorma, Van Heusen and Viyella were the cluster of famous brands owned by the group.
After a rapid take over, Morada became part of a new company - Vantona Viyella. A few years later the Carrington element became the filament weaving division with the lining sales division known as Carrington Morada. Some years later Vantona Viyella merged with Coats Patton, and in so doing Morada became part of one of the most prominent English textile companies ever formed - Coats Viyella.
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1990’s
As globalisation spread and English textile companies came under pressure to compete to survive, Coats Viyella divested certain operations.
In the late 1990's the present management bought the company and in 2005 secured funding from a leading Private Equity to re-establish the Morada name as a fabric brand.
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2000’s
Today, Morada has three divisions; including Morada Contract and Morada Manufacturing.
Morada - Our distinct furnishing fabrics are expertly designed ranges with a 21st Century "edge". Our designers create high quality prints and weaves. Inspiration is drawn from the past and the future with vintage elements and contemporary fabric construction incorporating polyester, viscose, acrylic, as well as linen, cotton and silk. All Morada fabrics have a distinct drape and feel unique to us.
Morada Contract - Fabrics encompass performance enhanced ranges with anti-bacterial, anti-microbial properties and specialist characteristics: fire retardancy, high rub fastness, light fastness and digitally printed fabrics for contract use in hotels and hospitality situations. The Contract staff survey, design, manufacture and install the products and also have specialist teams concentrating solely on PFI and Government Contract work.
CONTINUED
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2000’s
Morada Manufacturing - Morada is based in Altham, Lancashire and our team of experienced machinists craft made to measure curtains, cushions, throws, tie-backs and other accessories. We manufacture thousands of pairs of curtains each week, for some of the top UK retailers and contractors as well as individual bespoke curtains.
After 137 years, Morada is still true to the tenets of the founders, aiming to provide innovative, cutting edge solutions for fabrics and textiles at value for money prices.
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1900’s
The Cohen brothers were looking for a commercial edge and in 1894, became aware that Charles Cross, Edward Bevan and Clayton Beadle had patented their "artificial silk" which they named "Viscose" in the UK; "Rayon" in the US and sold under the trade name "Dacron". Although natural polymers have been around since time began, synthetic polymer are more recent and owe their origin to Alexander Parkes and his exhibits at the International Exhibition in London in 1862.
The most basic building block of a polymer is a monomer, which, when combined with oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, or fluoride, becomes a "polymer". The most important polymer for fabric construction is Polyethylene terephthalate, more commonly known as "polyester". The bright vibrant fabrics made from these synthetic "building blocks" exhibit a silk "handle"; and all the comfort properties of natural fibres, imitating silk, wool and linen.
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