Company History

Founded in 1920 by Mr Harry Harrison the first generation of the Harrison family in textiles, the original business was started on Vicar Lane in Bradford, after he decided to leave Wm Fison Ltd and try his hand at working for himself.

After the war the business became a Limited Company and moved to the Liberal Club premises in Burley In Wharfedale, hence the Harrisons (Burley) Ltd. Prior to the war Mr Arthur Harrison had joined the business however the business closed during the war years as Arthur was called on to work at the Avro Aircraft factory at Yeadon.

From its beginning the company had always had a 100% home trade customer base, right up until Mr John Harrison joining the Company in the early 1960s. In 1965 Mr John Harrison was made Managing Director on the premature death of his father Arthur.

John Harrison was the person who decided that the business could not survive on home trade alone, realising that the clothiers in Leeds were a dying breed. Therefore markets overseas were sought. Firstly in the Far East, Singapore mainly, this was followed in the 1980 with expansion into Middle Eastern markets. The 1990s saw the arrival of Mr Richard Harrison in the business, his arrival saw more consolidation in Far Eastern markets i.e Hong Kong and expansion into the Japanese market.

The last few years has seen Harrisons try to win back some of the Home Market they had perhaps overlooked in the past, particularly concentarting on Merchants, Wholesalers and small speciality Garment Manufacturers. Also in 2011 saw the arrival of Mr James Harrison, son of Richard.