Stitch Craftsmen Ltd (Whatley / Frome, Somerset)
About Us

Stitch Craftsmen started its life in the early 1990s and began trading in just a small garage. As an experienced sewing machine mechanic from the Clarks factory in Westfield, Radstock, Gary Willmott (the director) used his skills and contacts to increase orders, making boat covers, lorry tarpaulins and repairing sewing machines.

Over the following year, Stitch Craftsmen began landing itself more and more work, and it was not long until it outgrew its garage and required a more professional premises with considerably more space. Extra sewing machines were purchased, staff employed and a unit on the Marston Trading Estate in Frome acquired. At this stage, Stitch Craftsmen was sewing just about anything that could possibly be stitched, with substantial orders for dog leads and harnesses, lorry tarpaulin sheet repairs, boat covers, medical pouches and bags, inflatable bouncy castle repairs, tent and awning repairs, and even at one stage, leather trousers!

Stitch Craftsmen Ltd: History Past and Present
As the business grew, some major commercial brands began to become aware of Stitch Craftsmen, due to its rising success and recommendations from happy customers. Therefore, in 1999 it was necessary to move premises once more and a large factory was secured on the outskirts of Frome, at Combe Buildings, Whatley, Somerset, England.

This extra space allowed the company to take on a huge contract for Wavin Group - a leading European supplier of plastic pipe systems, assembling drainage pipe fittings. By now, Stitch Craftsmen employed a workforce numbering more than 40 people, most of which worked on a full-time basis, with permanent and temporary contracts.

When the Wavin contract was completed, the company reduced its staffing levels slightly and continued to diversify further. The latest successful undertakings include designer leather bags, and 'Nutwell ResponStor' body storage units for Nutwell Logistics, which are used all over the world to assist with disaster zone operations.

Stitch Craftsmen continues to manufacture dog leads and harnesses, as well as contract stitching and all manner of repair work for all things that are stitched, regardless of size and quantity. This is now very much a family business and the company prides itself on its close-knit workforce, which includes wife, son, daughter, sister-in-law and nephew.