Sean Gaffney - Textile Traders

With a history spanning over four decades, Textile Traders is a family-run business rooted in a deep respect for traditional textile craftsmanship and cross-cultural exchange. Founded by Jim and Diane Gaffney after their early travels through South East Asia, the business began with a market stall in Leeds in 1984 and grew into a much-loved source of hand-selected fabrics, jewellery, and batik tools from small-scale artisans in Indonesia and Thailand.

Now run by their son Sean Gaffney, Textile Traders continues to champion ethical sourcing and enduring relationships with the makers they’ve worked alongside for years. From their shop in Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire, and through a busy calendar of shows and events across the UK, Sean and the team share their ever-evolving collection of beautiful textiles with warmth, knowledge, and integrity.

Their dedication to cultural celebration and textile education also lives on through World Textile Day—a collaborative series of events that brings together traders, speakers, and makers to share textiles and stories from across the globe.

At the heart of Textile Traders is a simple but powerful ethos: to honour craftsmanship, build lasting relationships, and make extraordinary textiles accessible to all.

Find out more and follow Textile Traders: https://www.textiletraders.co.uk/

@textiletradersuk