Town’s grand

You might remember the outfits or you may remember the famous line ‘it’s a dream... it’s on garments and be inspected by the head passer before leaving the factory. Each coat and suit jacket were physically tried on by a girl and approved. This was no glamour job, each model required a good posture and the physical strength to do the work required.

“In the book former workers including machinists and pressers relive their memories which are combined with an archive of photographic items including the famed Harella dances.

“I hope my writing pays tribute to the firm where I spent my happiest working days.”

Harella was first established in London in 1919 and it opened the Croftmyl factory in Halifaxin 1941 to make uniforms for the Second World War.

The company later became famous for high class women’s fashion, producing coats and ladies suits.

The book was launched at The Imperial Crown Hotel in April. More than 100 people attended the event, hosted by Mike Peel, including Lew Harris’ relations the Leaman family and former Harella employees.

Copies of the book are available at Harveys of Halifax, The Book Case, Hebden Bridge, Just Books, Brighouse and Trinkette, Sowerby Bridge. Harella.’

Now almost 20 years since the Halifax Harella factory closed, local author Jean Illingworth, has written a book about her experiences at the famous clothing firm.

Jean, from Sowerby Bridge, worked in the company’s passing department as a model during the 1960s and as well as using her own memories, she has interviewed several other former models.

Her book, It’s a dream... it’s Harella, tells the story of the firm’s founder Lew Harris, the manufacturing process and the social events. It also looks at the people who worked at the Croftmyl factory, their memories and highs and lows.

Jean said: “My potted history of Harella relates to how it started in a small room in Aldersgate Street, Islington, London and later became an international success.

“The company was unique in having live models to try