
Holdsworth manufacture for Transport for London
We are proud to be manufacturing the fabric for the prestigious new Transport for London Routemaster buses that begin operating on route 24 this month. In total 600 buses are being made, with 40 metres of fabric used on each bus.
We carry out the full manufacturing processes of yarn dyeing, warping, winding, jacquard weaving, and all finishing at our busy manufacturing plant in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
The aesthetic design for the new Routemaster buses was carried out by London-based Heatherwick Studio, in a simple palette of colours and materials to create an interior that feels calm and coordinated. The new Routemaster sees a return to bench-type seats that two people can share, upholstered in durable red moquette that’s a 83% wool, 17% nylon composition.

We have manufactured the fabric to withstand the rigours of heavy usage, with approximately 28,000 people using the route each day. The fabric achieves an abrasion performance of 80,000 martindale cycles, passes the stringent BS 5852 Part 2 Crib 7 flammability test required by TfL, and will retain its attractive appearance over time. We are accredited to the ISO 14001 environmental management standard so can guarantee the fabric is manufactured with proven sustainability credentials and the high content of natural wool fibre ensures a low energy footprint and low CO2 impact.
Terry Colbert, Holdsworth Director of Sales commented "We're delighted to have won the order to supply the upholstery fabric for the new Routemaster buses. It's an iconic sight on the streets of the capital and it's great news that the fabric continues to be manufactured right here in the United Kingdom. We're proud to keep London moving both overground on the new Routemaster, and underground down in the tube."