Pre-1900s

• William Hollins & Company began their business in the late 1700s and created their namesake cloth in the late 1800s. Comprised of 55 percent merino wool and 45 percent cotton, it was a revolutionary cloth that was warm yet lightweight.
  
  

Early to Mid-1900s

• As the cloth's popularity increased, the company began to also create Viyella clothing. When the company registered its United States trademark in 1907, it became known in the Western world as practical clothing, especially for children.
  
  

Mid-1900s to 2000

• After the mid-19th century, Viyella became one of the biggest textile producers in the United Kingdom. In the 1980s, the company consciously shifted away from its 'sensible' classification towards becoming a byword for fashionable clothes.
  
  

Post-2000

• In January 2009, during the global economic crisis, the chain collapsed. There were talks regarding its sale and a takeover of the brand by another corporation, but as of August 2010, no offers had come to fruition.