CUSTOM APRON
The Artisan's choice with Colin Davidson,
functional premium aprons to protect, endure & sustain.
We at The Belfast Bib Company are very proud of what we do. Our ethos is to make premium functional products which, with the right care, will last and endure for a very long time. To get such a compliment from Northern Ireland's Award winning contemporary artist is very humbling. Thank you Colin for your kind words!
"We punch well above our weight here in Northern Ireland. My new apron from @thebelfastbibcompany exemplifies this. A world class product, beautifully designed and expertly crafted locally. Very special indeed. Now to get it covered in paint!
Please note: I NEVER do paid promotions - I just like to support local!"
Images courtesy of Colin Davidson.
The Mill Row
The ‘Cassie’ shawl/wrap
OCTOBER, 2025
Named in honour of my grandmother Catherine, known lovingly as ‘Cassie’ - this piece pays tribute to a remarkable woman and a generation shaped by the linen mills of Northern Ireland.
Cassie began working in Sinton’s Mill, Tandragee around 1915, just a young girl splitting her days between school and the mill floor. It was hard work for little pay, but it’s where she met my grandfather, a reeling master - and where their story began.
The hum of the looms once echoed across this land, weaving more than linen - they wove lives, families, and enduring legacies.
The ‘Cassie’ carries that history in every thread.
The Belfast Bib Company: A Legacy of Craftmanship and Durability
OCTOBER, 2025
The Belfast Bib Company is a heritage-driven brand deeply rooted in Northern Ireland’s rich industrial past. Inspired by generations of family who worked in the region’s iconic linen mills and rope factories, the company is a tribute to the grit, resilience, and craftsmanship that shaped both people and products.
Built on a foundation of hard work, precision, and respect for quality materials, The Belfast Bib Company creates durable, functional goods that are designed to last. Every item is handcrafted by skilled local artisans, many of whom have spent decades honing their craft. Every stitch, seam, and detail is made with care and a commitment to longevity - reflecting the values of the hardworking generations that came before.
Central to the company’s ethos is a belief in maintaining and preserving well-made items. That’s why they offer a comprehensive repair and maintenance service, allowing customers to extend the life of their products rather than replace them. Whether it's reinforcing a seam or restoring a worn bib, these services continue the tradition of valuing utility and reliability over convenience and waste.
In a world dominated by mass production and throwaway culture, The Belfast Bib Company stands apart - celebrating heritage, supporting local craftsmanship, and ensuring the values of the past live on in every product they create.
Image: (Heritage Hunter, 2024)
The Mill Row
The Tillie Scarf
SEPTEMBER, 2025
I never knew my grandmother, Matilda - known lovingly as Tillie. She passed away after giving birth to my mother, and so their lives only touched for a brief moment. My mother grew up without her, carrying only her name and the stories told of a woman who was a gifted cook and baker, using her talents in service to others. Though I never met her, her presence has always lingered - woven into our family’s fabric, quiet yet enduring.
This scarf is named in her honour, a symbol of the connection between generations. It is also a tribute to my mother, who bore the weight of that loss but chose to live with strength and love. She has dedicated her life to caring for me and my three siblings, and still today, her world revolves around her children and grandchildren.
When I think of the name Tillie, I think of resilience passed down through silence, of love that never had the chance to be spoken but still found its way through time. The scarf represents not just memory, but legacy - the warmth of a grandmother I never knew, and the unwavering devotion of a mother who continues to give us everything
Weaving Stories: Reflections on the Linen Heritage of Northern Ireland
SEPTEMBER, 2025
Linen is woven into the very fabric of Northern Ireland’s industrial past. For generations, mills stood at the centre of towns and villages, shaping not only the economy but also the identity of entire communities. Almost every family, in some way, had a connection to linen - whether through the fields, the mills, or the finished fabric that travelled across the world.
And yet, with each passing generation, the knowledge, skills, and stories tied to this proud tradition become harder to find. The hum of the looms, the feel of flax between your fingers, the pride in craftsmanship - these are memories that risk fading into history unless we keep them alive.
That’s why events like the Dromore Linen Festival are so important. They don’t just celebrate the past; they bring people together to share their personal and family connections to linen. This year, I had the privilege of being part of the festival and meeting so many people with fascinating stories to tell. Some spoke of parents who worked the floors, others of family businesses rooted around the industry.
For me, it was also a chance to share my own family story - or rather, two family stories. Though interconnected by linen, they stood on very different sides of the industry. That contrast has always fascinated me, showing how one fabric could bind together lives, livelihoods, and legacies in complex ways.
The linen industry may no longer dominate our daily lives as it once did, but the heritage remains a cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s story. By remembering, retelling, and celebrating it, we ensure that those skills, sacrifices, and successes continue to inspire future generations.
I came away from the Dromore Linen Festival feeling not just nostalgic, but hopeful - hopeful that through storytelling and community, we can keep the threads of this rich heritage strong. Well done to Kerry Freud and her amazing team, whose passion, vision, and energy made the event so special.
Nomadic Watches Belfast
x The Belfast Bib Company
JULY, 2025
There’s something special about collaborations that feel like they were always meant to happen. Recently, The Belfast Bib Company had the honour of creating bespoke aprons for the talented horologists at Nomadic Watches Belfast - and it couldn’t have been a more fitting partnership.
Nomadic is more than a watchmaker. Their timepieces are a tribute to Belfast’s story - precision, resilience, and heritage woven into every detail. Just like us, they draw inspiration from the city’s proud past, from the shipyards that launched giants to the linen mills that clothed the world.
At The Belfast Bib Company, we’ve built our craft on that same legacy. Every stitch in our aprons is a nod to the generations who came before us - the workers whose skill and graft defined this city. So, to see our work now worn by makers who carry forward Belfast’s tradition of excellence feels deeply meaningful.
This collaboration is more than just aprons and watches. It’s a meeting of kindred spirits - two Belfast brands celebrating the heritage that shaped us, while creating something timeless for the future.
Introducing the 'Clonard': A New Product Crafted for Artisans
FEBRUARY 13, 2025
I was deeply moved when I experienced Colin Davidson's 'Silent Testimony' at the Ulster Museum, Belfast. The poignant emotion captured in these portraits, especially the haunting eyes, was a powerful testament to the pain and anguish suffered as a result of the conflict in Northern Ireland. (Currently on exhibition in the National Portrait Gallery, London until the 25th February 2025)
Given his remarkable talent, Colin seemed the perfect choice to trial the 'Clonard' bibbed apron, which is designed with artists and artisans in mind. With its extra-long length and split front, the apron is not only practical but also an ideal accessory for any studio, blending style with functionality.
'Thank you so much for sending the apron. It is in itself a work of art. The design and craftwork involved in it's making is impeccable.' - Colin Davidson
(Image courtesy of Colin Davidson, 2024)
Belfast School of Art
x 175 Fashion Event
NOVEMBER 24, 2024
175 years of Belfast School of Art, celebrated in style at McConnell's Distillery, Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast. A fantastic array of creativity from Past, Present and Future Graduates and I was honoured to be a part of it showing some aprons from 'The Belfast Bib Company'.
The 'Belfast Classic' took to the runway in Cumin and Charcoal dry wax cotton, along with the 'Belfast Classic Un-bibbed' in Khaki which was teamed with a custom bibbed waistcoat crafted from 50 year old vintage linen salvaged from a factory clearance. Each look was styled with vintage linen hats by 'The Belfast Bib Company' and the matching vintage linen ties were a custom order beautifully crafted by the very talented David and Karen from 'Belfast Bow Company'.
A new addition to the range, the 'Malone' made its debut and is skilfully handcrafted in a rugged waxed leather with a lasered logo on the bib pocket.
A hugely successful and enjoyable event, congratulations to Dean Liggett and the teams behind the scenes.