This year we celebrate 80 years since Replin by Hainsworth was founded by Dr Maurus Banyai, a Hungarian refugee who specialised in textile innovation.
Replin was founded in post-war Britain in 1945, and quickly became known for its revolutionary machine-woven textiles, which were supplied to Cunard liners, the interiors of Heathrow Airport terminals, and the UK Houses of Parliament.
The growth of Replin coincided with a boom in the aviation industry, leading to the Jet Age of commercial tourism. Air travel went from a novelty to a necessity, and demand for our design-led interior fabrics grew. Replin soon became established as a global leader in bespoke transport interiors, collaborating with brands including British Airways, Quantas and South African Airlines across the 20th century.
In 2015 Replin was acquired by 240-year-old textile mill and woollen cloth manufacturer AW Hainsworth, merging decades-long innovation and craftsmanship into a unified design and production facility. The Hainsworth name is synonymous with textile innovation, having supplied fabrics to diverse markets including fashion, the military, interiors and leisure since 1783.
With a strong foothold in the worlds of both interior design and flame-resistant protective textiles, it was a natural next step for Hainsworth to move into the manufacture of durable luxury fabrics. As part of the AW Hainsworth group, Replin carries forward over two centuries of British textile excellence, combining traditional craftsmanship with state-of-the-art production techniques.
Ellie Parkes, International Sales Manager at Replin, says, “Over the last 80 years, the Replin brand has developed side by side with some of the biggest names in aviation, becoming synonymous with quality and style in the global cabin design industry. As part of the AW Hainsworth group, this reputation is enhanced by over 240 years of textile innovation. Our fabrics help to elevate the onboard experience, enhancing the airline’s brand aesthetic and ultimately improving the way people feel when they’re travelling by air.”
Replin by Hainsworth is now a trusted supplier to international airline clients, counting Lufthansa, American Airlines, Qatar Airways, SWISS Air and Virgin Atlantic among our customers. We are renowned throughout the aviation industry for our high quality, technical innovation and aesthetic appeal.
Replin has been a trusted travelling companion for eight decades, and we will remain so for many more.
Since Replin was founded in 1945…
- The first commercial jet airliner, the DeHavilland Comet, entered service in 1952
- Concorde flew for the first time in 1969 (and the last time in 2003)
- The Boeing 747, the first Jumbo Jet, was introduced in 1970
- The first electronic plane ticket was used in 1994
- The number of passengers flying from the US grew from 1.23 million in 1946 to 862 million in 2022
Read more about the history of Replin.
