The Colourist Online – A Colourful Wednesday at Avocet Dyes and Chemicals
Archive on Tour
A visit to old friends
A Colourful Wednesday at Avocet Dyes and Chemicals
What a brilliant way to spend a Wednesday! Thanks to a kind invitation from our lovely member Vanessa, the SDC archive team headed over to visit Avocet Dyes and Chemicals – and what a day it turned out to be. This visit was a bit special. Not only did we get the chance to connect with one of our earliest company members, but we also got to meet the team from John Hogg, who have recently welcomed Avocet into their growing portfolio.
For a bit of background – Avocet was founded back in 1982 and has long been a key player in the textile world, especially when it comes to flame retardants and dyes. They’re known for their top-notch quality and dedication to the highest manufacturing standards, including BS EN ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015. In short: they know their stuff.
We brought along a few special items from the archive – objects that tie into both the founding of the SDC and the rich history of the textile industry in the area. These sparked some great conversations – from the Colour Index (which many of us rely on as a go-to reference) to the fascinating story of L.B. Holliday and its links to ICI. We also had a great chat about metamerism – a key concept in colour matching that’s more important than ever in the modern supply chain.
One of the highlights of the day? A behind-the-scenes tour of the site. After squeezing into some very stylish PPE, we were shown around the colour lab, archive room, dye house, and stores. Every single person we met was clearly passionate and proud of what they do – and it really showed. The sense of teamwork, history, and family spirit at Avocet was inspiring. It honestly felt like we were being welcomed into a family who deeply care about their legacy and their craft.
We’re already looking forward to the return visit when the Avocet and John Hogg team come to Perkin House to see the archive in its home setting. There’s so much more to explore and share – and we can’t wait to dive further into the world of colour together.
