Columbine Hosiery
A Fast Rising Gisborne Industry

Five years ago the three-acre block of land at the southwest end of Disraeli Street was just a paddock. Today it is the site of a modern, 20,000 sq. ft. plant, with over 100 employees, producing nearly 20,000 pairs of stockings every week.

This, in the briefest of terms, is the story of Columbine Hosiery Ltd. It is also the story of the Thorpe family —a father and three sons who have established in Gisborne a thriving industry, the product of which is sold throughout the length and breadth of the country.

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The scene in the knitting room, where eight big machines, each 53 ft long, are working 24 hours a day knitting Columbine hosiery.

Mr W. Thorpe had been prominently associated with the hosiery manufacturing industry in New Zealand for about 30 years before coming to Gisborne, and his sons, Messrs J. R. Thorpe, G. D. Thorpe, and A. W. Thorpe had also had considerable experience in the same line.

When they decided to set up a new plant, Gisborne was selected because it filled most requirements, with an ideal site. The first hosiery was knitted in January 1953. Since then the original buildings have been extended, in two further stages, and new machinery is still being added.

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Close-up (above) shows knitting head on machine. Hosiery is knitted flat, is later seamed on long line of smaller machines seen at right. Girls soon become adept at job, find work pleasant and interesting in ideal conditions.

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Highly-magnified picture shows hosiery weave.

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Close-up of seaming machine in action

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Inspecting hosiery after seaming

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Setting and shaping of hosiery is done in this process.

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One of the dyeing vats

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Preparation for boxing

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The boiler-house, which provides heat and steam for the plant

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Box covers are gold-embossed with emblem

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Covers are mechanically gummed in next stage

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Girls at morning tea in large, airy cafeteria

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Finished boxes of hosiery ready for sale to milady.