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Overview
A significant swatch
While small in scale, this swatch of twill holds a very significant place in the history of New Zealand textile production. It was produced by Thomas Blick (1802-1860), New Zealand's first commercial weaver, from merino wool spun by local German women.
Blick Cloth
Thomas Blick came from a long line of weavers, and was a master weaver. He left his home in Stroud, an area in Gloucestershire known for its cottage weavers, for Nelson in 1842. The weaver had read about the colony and its opportunities in the New Zealand Company's 1842 prospectus. In 1842, Thomas, along with his wife and their seven children, packed up their lives and set sail for Nelson on the 'Indus'.
On arriving, Blick discovered that his fellow settlers were very much in need of a supply of hardwearing clothing. He quickly established himself as a tanner and supplier of leather. As he had not brought a loom with him, he had to make one using local resources. After much experimentation, and a number of failures, he was finally able to produce two lengths of tweed and flannel for exhibition at the Nelson Institute in June 1845. The fabric, which was near waterproof, came to be known as 'Blick Cloth' or 'Nelson Cloth'.
'Blick Cloth' was used to make hardwearing trousers and constabulary uniforms, although the Governor commissioned a Blick Cloth sports suit.
Royal recognition
Thomas Blick passed away in 1860 at the age of 58. His mill was taken over by Joseph Webley, a former neighbour from Stroud, who in 1864 formed the Nelson Cloth Factory. The following year Blick was posthumously awarded a bronze medal by Queen Victoria at a special exhibition of works from the Colonies held to mark the opening of the Crystal Palace.