The Alexandra Story
The Alexandra Drapery Company was established in Bristol as a drapers shop during the 1850’s by Alfred Isaac Davis, selling fabrics and household linens. Bristol was an affluent area with a major dock area and many small manufacturing and engineering workshops. All clothing was made to order from fabrics and patterns selected in the Alexandra drapery shop, tailored by seamstresses and delivered to customers homes. During the First World War, Alexandra supplied garments for the thousands of women who volunteered to work in nursing, agricultural and factory roles. As the role of women in the workforce expanded over the succeeding decades, so did the demand for protective workwear and uniforms. In 1959, a new company was established called Alexandra Overalls Ltd, selling a range of readymade workwear garments for women by mail order – and thus the Alexandra known by millions of workers worldwide, was launched.
