Chester Jefferies
Chester Jefferies is a British glove maker founded in 1936 and based in Gillingham, Dorset. It handmakes leather gloves for men and women, including driving gloves.
| Founded | 1936, Slough |
|---|---|
| Founders | Chester Jefferies and Gilbert Pearce |
| Headquarters | Gillingham, Dorset |
| Ownership | Pearce family, fourth generation |
| Product | Handmade leather gloves |
| Website | chesterjefferies.co.uk |
What is Chester Jefferies?
Chester Jefferies is an English glove manufacturer that makes leather gloves by hand in North Dorset, a region with a glove-making tradition documented back to the 14th century.
History
The business was set up in 1936 in Slough by Chester Jefferies and Gilbert Pearce. In 1963 it moved to Gillingham in Dorset. After Chester Jefferies left the company, the Pearce family took over, and it is now run by the fourth generation of that family.
Products and positioning
The range centres on leather gloves, among them men's and ladies' driving gloves and dress gloves in a variety of colours. Each pair passes through around 15 processes involving hand work. A Master Glove Maker selects and examines every leather skin, and each pair is checked before leaving the factory.
- Founded in Slough in 1936
- Based in Gillingham, Dorset, since 1963
- Fourth-generation family ownership
Distribution
Chester Jefferies gloves are sold through specialist menswear retailers in the UK and abroad, as well as directly.
Why it matters
As a family-owned glove factory still making by hand in Dorset, Chester Jefferies represents the survival of a specialist British craft industry and the value of domestic manufacturing in heritage accessories.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Chester Jefferies gloves made?
They are handmade in Gillingham, Dorset, where the company has been based since 1963.
Who founded Chester Jefferies?
Chester Jefferies and Gilbert Pearce founded the business in Slough in 1936.