Our Story

Est 1924: 2024 sees Yaffy celebrate its centennial anniversary

Take a look back at the story of Yaffy's first 100 years

From manufacturing leather coats to a leading international supplier of high-performance outerwear and technical clothing to the blue light industry.

Yaffy Arrow  2019 - Part of the global uniform solutions group

On 16th August 2019, the management team acquired the Corporate Apparel Division of Tailored Brands Inc, with the backing of LDC, part of Lloyds Banking Group, and as a result Mi Hub Limited was formed.

Mi Hub, with offices in the UK and US, is now the UK’s largest supplier of corporate clothing and workwear solutions to businesses and individuals, trading internationally through its Dimensions, Alexandra, Yaffy and Affinity brands.

Yaffy Arrow  2004 - 2010 - Part of a corporate apparel group

In 2004, Yaffy sold its shares to the Johnson Service Group and was part of the group until 2008. In 2008, the Dimensions management team acquired the business from Johnson’s with backing from Gresham LLP and a UK bank syndicate.

In 2010, Yaffy was acquired by Tailored Brands Inc, along with Dimensions and Alexandra forming MWUK Limited.

Yaffy Arrow  2000 - Business transformation

In 2000, Yaffy won the National Police Uniform contract which transformed the business.

Yaffy Arrow  1996 - New supply route

1996 saw Yaffy start manufacturing offshore in Poland where they continue to do so today.

Yaffy Arrow  1993 - New ideas

In 1993 Arthur Yaffy retired and Anthony Goldberg purchased Yaffy’s shareholding and became owner and MD. 

Yaffy Arrow  1985 - 1988 - £1 million milestone

Arthur Yaffy developed a relationship with a large chain store in 1985 which saw the company dramatically increase their turnover to over £1 million in 1988 with 65 employees. In 1988, Sydney Goldberg retired.

Yaffy Arrow  1974 - 1984 - Reorganisation and expansion

In 1974, Goldberg’s son Tony and Tony’s college friend Stan Rigby joined the company; Goldberg’s specialism was production techniques and Rigby’s was design.

1974 also saw Sydney Goldberg and Arthur Yaffy commission consultants to reorganise the factory and introduce an incentive scheme; production rose from 400 garments to 600 per week.

Yaffy Arrow  1955 - 1973 - New accounts and developments

In 1955, Arthur Yaffy, the founder’s son joined the company and quickly opened new accounts with the fast developing chain stores such as C&A, Jackson the Tailor and Hope Brothers.

Yaffy Arrow  1955 - 1973 - New accounts and developments

In 1955, Arthur Yaffy, the founder’s son joined the company and quickly opened new accounts with the fast-developing chain stores such as C&A, Jackson the Tailor and Hope Brothers.

Yaffy Arrow  1945 - 1947 - The post War years

After the war, there was a shortage of army contracts and again civilian fabrics were scarce and expensive. Turnover during this period was approximately £50,000 which represented 16,000 garments. Every garment made during this period was sold to wholesale warehouses across Scotland.

Yaffy Arrow  1938 - 1945 - Supporting the War effort

With war imminent, clothing manufacturers were given army contracts and civilian fabrics were extremely scarce and expensive.

Early in 1939, the government introduced the utility scheme whereby fabrics of certain specifications were given utility numbers and sold at a listed price which were then made into garments; strict rationing was ensured by a coupon transaction at every stage.

Everyone was issued with annual clothing coupons to be used as desired on garments such as shorts, a shirt, socks, ties and handkerchiefs; if you wanted two pairs of shoes you may not have enough coupons for other items of clothing!

Yaffy Arrow  1928 - 1938 - Diversification

During this decade, Yaffy stopped making leathers and diversified into making double texture coats, children’s navy gabardine school coats together with gentlemen’s wool gabardine and cotton gabardine raincoats. Turnover went up to £15,000 during this period, which equated to 10,000 garments.

Yaffy Arrow  1928 - S Yaffy Limited is formed

The company continued to grow during the next decade. In 1928, S. Yaffy Limited was formed with £1000 capital. Yaffy moved to a 1500 sq. ft building and later an additional 500 sq. ft. was rented for cutting and the stocking of raw materials and finished goods.

Yaffy Arrow  1924 - Yaffy is founded as a leather coat manufacturer

In 1924 Solomon Yaffy founded a company, in partnership with Mr Ross, with the intention to manufacture leather coats. The initial start-up was financed by £800 received as a dowry on marriage to his wife-to-be Dorothy.

Initially, Yaffy and Ross rented a small room in Clyde Street, Glasgow which had two machines, both second hand and foot pedalled, one pair of scissors and a knife suitable for cutting leather. Together the two partners and a cutter named Bell, operated the machines and would sell and deliver the garments in a rented wheelbarrow.

Within months, the company moved to bigger premises in Salt Market with Yaffy buying out Ross to become the sole proprietor.

Yaffy Arrow  Late 1800s - Emigration to Scotland

Shepchel Yochelman, known as Solomon Yaffy, was born to Russian Jewish parents in the late 1800s. During that time, anti-Jewish pogroms in the Russian Empire were large-scale and led many Russian Jews to reassess their perceptions of their status within the Russian Empire. This led to significant Jewish emigration, mostly to the United States, but many stopped when they got to Scotland and decided to set up home there, including Solomon Yaffy’s family.