A rare view inside Ashford Wheels and Looms, New Zealand
As textile folk, many of you are familiar with the New Zealand company Ashford Wheels and Looms. In fact some may own an Ashford product as they also sell hand carders, drum carders and many other tools and accessories.
They sell all around the world.
Me, I am the proud owner of a set of their hand carders and a drum carder, they are invaluable tools when it comes to my felt making.
Here’s a question: what have Lego and Ashford Wheels and Looms got in common? I will tell you at the end of the post.
Back to my story. You probably have experienced one of those rare moments in life where the planets aligned – a real ‘right place right time’ moment. This happened to me earlier this year. Last February, we did a once in a lifetime trip to New Zealand. At this stage I can’t tell you how many time zones we traversed but, travelling from Ireland, but were a long time in the air and we covered over 18,000km. I loved every minute of the trip and we factored in time to spend at the Ashford store in Ashburton on the South Island. So for anyone who has or is thinking about purchasing anything from the store, here’s some photos and a story that might fill in the blanks on your lovely pieces.
I was so excited when our hire car pulled into the car park. I jumped out and started talking to the first person I met. By sheer stroke of luck I was talking to the company’s owner Richard Ashford. My second bit of luck was that he and his lovely wife Elizabeth were about to lead a factory tour for an American group. He introduced me to the group (which I thought was very courteous of him) and off we all headed into the factory. The couple’s charisma and energy shone through during the tour. They were both about to retire from the family business making way for a new generation of Ashford’s to take over the business which has been on the go for over 90 years. I wish them both a happy and healthy retirement and I want to thank them both for making the morning I spent in their company so warm and memorable.
So if you are the proud owner of one of the 900,000 Ashford products which have been made so far in Ashburton, give us a shout and let us know what treasured item you own. If you are thinking of buying, the slide shows may well whet your appetite. Enjoy this rare view inside the factory.
Stockists are all over the globe.
My next stop was a wander around the store. Think kid in a sweet shop in this regard. The only issues that held me back were the fact that there’s only so much that would fit into the suitcase and the realisation that I can buy from one of many stockists in Europe – happy days! Here’s a sneak peak of the interior of the shop:
I hope you enjoyed these special holiday photos. Please feel free to reach out and tell us what Ashford pieces you own (or what is on your wish list)
Answer: both are highly successful companies who started out making wooden toys.
12 thoughts on “A rare view inside Ashford Wheels and Looms, New Zealand”
Yes – we both have Ashford Drum Carders 🙂 But no, we didn’t know the common ground for Lego and Ashford.
What a stroke of good fortune arriving at the Ashford store and being able to take the tour. Thank you for sharing your experience by posting the fabulous photos.
Thank you ladies. This is dedicated to Jan as she got so excited when I said I had been there. I promised her I would write a post about it.
Helene x
WOW Helene, what a holiday treat! A double treat: 1 to go to New Zealand in the first place (I’ve always wanted to do so, but won’t make it now); and 2 a visit to Ashfords with a guided tour thrown in. I think my drum carder may be an Ashford, but it has a “Herrings” label on it – the Aladdin’s cave of a shop in Dorchester where you have to keep a tight hold on your purse or it would leap open and empty itself on their sales counter!
Thank you for the guided tour, now I need to wash my face after dribbling over all the bits and pieces on show.
Ann
Hi Ann,
Yes it was a trip of a lifetime – very much constantly on the go. I would have been very happy to stay a lot longer and linger on the odd beach or by a lake. A great feeling of the sisterhood when you got talking to textile people too. It’s amazing how interests unite folk. Yes, the Ashford’s visit was very special and I am so grateful that it worked out. I did a quick check, Herrings is one of their suppliers and how lucky you were to fine it (I assume from your comment it was second hand). Sounds just like my kind of shop but I would be in danger of emptying it and the bank account!
Helene x
Wow, what a wonderful trip. I think my hand carders are Ashford. New Zealand is on my bucket list but as you say, it’s a long way to go.
It is a long way Ruth. I am so happy that my other half is a great organiser and it was worth every minute.
I hope you get to go!
Helene
Wow! How exciting to be able to tour the factory! My first spinning wheel was a secondhand Ashford traditional from the 1970’s – I use it frequently and it’s still going strong.
I love to hear that! The one thing that stuck in my mind when I was doing the tour was that all the parts were of such a high quality. It was a bit surreal when Richard mentioned ensuring the motorised parts met EU standards. This is something that I am more used to hearing in the Irish context (as Ireland is part of the European Union). I felt right at home down under!
Helene
Lovely to hear again the excitement that has left it’s mark on you….your New Zealand trip, visiting the Ashford shop & factory, the tour with the owners (plus their request for your time!) together with the fellowship of other textile enthusiasts.
You had a truly remarkable experience.
Like so many….I too have Ashford Carders which I happily use when prepping for felting work.
Xx
Thanks Antje.
It was a good decision to stop over and visit them. I met other textile enthusiasts at a craft fair on the North Island. Again, it was like coming home – I could have stayed the day chatting and making – but a schedule beckoned. Perhaps it’s a bit like when musicians get together for a jam session!
Helene x
How exciting, Hélène! I bet your head was swimming with all the possibility when visiting 😀
I learned how to spin in an Ashford Traveller, and still guffaw when I remember a lady in the London Tube asking me if I worked in theatre – she thought the wheel I was carrying to a spinning group session was a prop!
I had no idea Ashford started out making wooden toys, I wonder what made them switch to wheels? Likely the profit margins, those babies have gotten expensive :p
I reckon the lady thought you were playing the part of the Sleeping Beauty in the show Leonor. Funny how people’s minds work at times.
As far as I know they started manufacturing the wheels during the war which would kind of make sense. What I found quite interesting is that I can purchase from a German company but the price is much the same as in NZ. It was reassuring as I was kind of tempted to bring one home. But when I saw this, I decided to buy ‘local’ if I go through with it.
Helene x