Dents is a British manufacturer of gloves and leather goods, founded by John Dent in Worcester, England in 1777. The company developed from a traditional glove-making business into an international manufacturer and retailer. Its headquarters and manufacturing facilities are in Warminster, Wiltshire, where it continues to produce its Heritage Collection using traditional glove-making techniques.
The company has a long association with the British royal family and it currently holds a royal warrant as glove manufacturer to King Charles III. Dents gloves have also been used in film and television productions, including the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre.
Dents was established in Worcester in 1777 as a manufacturer of fine leather gloves by John Dent (1751–1811).[1] It is possibly Britain's oldest existing fashion manufacturer. Dent's sons, John and William, helped the company expand throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1845, mechanical sewing was introduced to the company to assist craftspeople.[2]
John and William Dent
In 1847, the business became Dent, Allcroft & Co. when John Derby Allcroft ran the company. Under Allcroft, annual production quadrupled to over 12 million pairs in 1884 and Dents became the premier glove producer in the world.[3]
The company has a factory in Warminster, Wiltshire, having been present in the town since 1937.[3] Since sometime before 1992, the company has been a subsidiary of Dewhurst Dent plc, a maker of fashion accessories based in Bolton.[6]
Since March 2023, Dents' headquarters has been the temporary home of the Fashion Museum, Bath.[7]
Manufacturing and craftsmanship
Dents established its presence in Warminster in 1937, and the town subsequently became the centre of its British manufacturing operations. The Warminster premises combine manufacturing facilities with the company's headquarters. [8]
Traditional glove manufacture involves several stages, including the selection and cutting of leather, sewing, assembly and finishing. Glove pieces are cut from patterns, with the arrangement of the pattern on the hide affecting the shape and fit of the finished glove. Dents has used patterns in its manufacturing process for many years, including patterns dating from the nineteenth century. [9]
The construction of a glove requires the accurate joining of numerous small components. These include the palm and fingers, thumb and fourchettes, with some styles also incorporating triangular pieces known as quirks, which allow greater movement between the fingers. At the Warminster factory, gloves have been sewn using specialist machinery, including older Singer sewing machines, alongside hand-sewn construction for some styles. [10]
The manufacturing process also includes finishing the completed gloves on heated hand forms to shape and smooth the leather. The properties of different leathers, including their thickness, grain and elasticity, influence the cutting and construction process. [11]
The Heritage Collection continues to be individually manufactured in England at the Warminster factory.
Products
Gloves remain Dents' principal product. The company produces men's and women's gloves in leather and knitted materials. Its range includes traditional dress gloves, driving gloves, touchscreen-compatible gloves, lined and unlined gloves, and styles designed to provide water resistance. Gloves are made from a variety of leathers and constructions, including deerskin, hairsheep and peccary.
Peccary leather is among the more specialised materials used by Dents. Obtained from a wild pig native to Central and South America, it is valued for its distinctive grain, softness and durability. Peccary leather is relatively less commonly available than many other glove leathers and is used for some of Dents' higher-priced gloves.[12]
Dents also produce leather accessories including belts, wallets and other small leather goods. Its wider product range has included hats, scarves and knitwear.[13]
Personal lives
Aerial photo of Sudeley Castle
In 1837, John and William Dent purchased Sudeley Castle which had been the home of former queen Catherine Parr who died in 1548. The castle and chapel were "ruinous" at the time, having been extensively damaged during the Civil War.[14][15]
The Dents' restoration of the castle was quite sensitive, deciding to not entirely rebuild the castle, rather leaving part of it as picturesque ruins, giving the castle much of its character still seen today. One reliable source states that the restoration was directed by George Gilbert Scott, "working on the western side of the inner court in the style of the existing Medieval and Elizabethan buildings"; Gilbert Scott subsequently began the restoration of the castle's free-standing St Mary's chapel.[16]
When Sudeley was habitable again, the brothers set about filling the castle with artworks.[15] After their deaths, their nephew, John Coucher Dent, inherited the castle in 1855. He and his wife Emma Dent continued the restoration.[17]
↑"Sudeley Castle and St Mary's Chapel, Sudeley". Gilbert Scott. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2021. Directory of British Architects 1834–1914, 2 volumes (Continium, London, 2001), vol. II, p. 1075
↑"History". Sudeley Castle. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2021. His wife, Emma Brocklehurst, threw herself enthusiastically into Sudeley's restoration
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