The Gio Factory Experience
See How Genuine Gio Stockings Are Made
Step inside the world of Gio and discover the craftsmanship, machinery and specialist skills behind our stockings.
Our factory experience gives you a rare opportunity to visit both the Gio factory and dedicated dye house in Derbyshire, following the journey of a stocking from knitting and construction through to finishing, colour and the final product.
This is not simply a warehouse visit. It is a chance to see traditional British hosiery manufacturing up close and understand what makes a genuine fully fashioned stocking so distinctive.
Inside the Gio Factory
At the heart of the visit is our working factory, where Gio stockings continue to be produced using traditional specialist machinery and techniques.
During the tour you will be introduced to the different stages involved in creating our stockings and learn how each part of the construction contributes to the finished piece.
You may see processes including:
- Knitting and shaping of the stocking
- Traditional fully fashioned construction
- The formation of the heel and foot
- Seaming and finishing
- Inspection and preparation for dyeing
- The specialist machinery used throughout production
You will also learn how to identify some of the characteristics of an authentic fully fashioned stocking, including the back seam, fashioning marks, heel construction and keyhole.
Visit the Gio Dye House
The dye house forms a separate part of the experience and gives visitors a very different perspective on hosiery production.
You will learn more about the dyeing and finishing stages and see how colour transforms the appearance and character of the finished stocking.
As a working production environment, the exact processes taking place can vary depending on our manufacturing schedule.
Meet the People Behind the Stockings
Traditional hosiery production depends as much on people as machinery.
During your visit, members of the Gio team will explain the processes involved and share some of the specialist knowledge required to produce the stockings.
It is a chance to go beyond the finished product and meet some of the people involved in keeping these manufacturing skills alive.
Shop Directly From Gio
Your visit also includes the opportunity to browse selected stock at our warehouse.
Depending on availability, this can include:
- End-of-line styles
- Discontinued colours
- Sale pieces
- Imperfect stockings
- Samples and occasional warehouse finds
Selected items may be available at up to 70% below usual website prices.
Because warehouse stock constantly changes, availability, sizes and colours cannot be guaranteed.
A Rare Look Behind British Manufacturing
Few people ever see how a genuine fully fashioned stocking is actually made.
The Gio Factory Experience opens the doors to the machinery, processes, colour and craftsmanship behind a product that has been part of British hosiery history for generations.
Whether you're already a Gio customer, fascinated by fashion and textiles, interested in British manufacturing or simply curious about how something so delicate is made, this is an opportunity to see the story behind the stocking.
Your Visit
Gio is a working manufacturing business and our tours take place around normal production wherever possible.
For this reason, exact activities seen during a tour may vary according to the production schedule.
Tour times may also occasionally need to change. Final timings will be confirmed approximately one week before your visit.
Visitors should follow all safety instructions given by the Gio team while inside manufacturing areas.
Gio Factory & Warehouse
Unit K
Sawmills Industrial Park
Loscoe
Heanor
Derbyshire
DE75 7GH
Gio Dye House
Unit 11
Securiparc
Wimsey Way
Somercotes
Alfreton
Derbyshire
DE55 4HG
