There was bleak news for the workers of clothing firm Ritz Manufacturing Company and the immediate prospects were not looking too rosy for another Glossop-based business.

The company, which operated from Howardtown Town Mill, had full order books, but in January 1981 it did not have enough fabric to turn into clothes.

The only option was to temporarily lay off 230 workers until the supplies of cloth returned to normal.

A company spokesman told the Chronicle: “It is the first time in our history that we have had to take such a measure.

“A lot of our fabrics come from abroad and the suppliers to the United Kingdom are on short time.

“In happier times Ritz Manufacturing Company would have carried a much larger stock of fabrics.”

Thankfully for the employees the supplies began to flow and one of Glossop’s biggest firms was soon working flat-out again.

Ritz and sister company Lux Lux, which supplied children’s and women’s clothing to major retail outlets, prospered, but both eventually closed their Glossop operations.

Also struggling to get supplies at the time was Volcrepe, which supplied rubber components to the oil, shipping and automobile industry.

A spokesman said it was ‘dammed hard work to get orders but we are doing well with our exports’.

A shortage of materials was also blamed, but Volcrepe also prospered.

But like many Glossop factories it eventually closed its buildings on Mill Street and homes have been built where they once stood.

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