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Flannel shirt woven at the Cambrian Mills in Dre-fach Felindre, early 1900s. Unsold stock from a drapery shop in Swansea. Cambrian Mills supplied items of clothing – petticoats, shirts and aprons – as well as yards of striped, checked and plain woollen cloths to customers across mid and south Wales. Most were sent to drapers’ shops in the industrial south where flannel workwear was in demand. Some were shipped as far as the north of England and Scotland.

Cream with fine grey, beige and mauve stripes. Long sleeves, mother of pearl button fastening at cuffs. Shirt has slits at lower edge of side seams. Fabric at back is longer than front by 3-5cm. Neck opening fastened by two mother of pearl buttons. White twill cotton trim along neck line is fitted with three button holes for attachment of collar. One white plastic stud is fitted into the proper right button hole at centre front. Shoulders and upper back reinforced with double thickness of self fabric. Additional patch of fabric also to reinforce lower edge of centre front opening. Triangular gussets at lower edge of sleeves and at lower side seams (to reinforce slits). Woven maker's label stitched to inner neck. All machine stitched.