HeaTona is a British company with a long history going back to the end of the nineteeth century. Founded by William Heaton, initially in partnership with E Longfield and Co, before taking over the company at the turn of the last century. At this time they employed between thirty to forty workers.
They were known as Heatons (Leeds) Ltd, a wholesale clothier and manufacturers. Business prospered from the early 1920s with the introduction of “Heatonex” girls’ fashions and “Heatona” ladies fashions. They were one of the few companies that exported to South Africa throughout the 1920s and later to the USA. The company was famous for its women’s wear, especially smart coats, and for its Alwetha rubberless raincoats which were produced under a different trading name.
Heatons were based at HeaTona House on New York Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, employing 1200 workers, reaching its peak in the late 1930s. By 1960 the company had fewer than 500 workers. The company ceased trading in 1981.
Written by Catwalk Creative Vintage.
from a c.1960s coat
Courtesy of catwalkcreativevintage
