Polish-born founder of sailing clothes brand Henri Lloyd dies

Henri Strzelecki, founder of the clothing brand Henri Lloyd, has died aged 87.

The Polish-born former soldier and keen sailor was “a visionary pioneer who sailed away peacefully,” on Boxing Day, the company website stated.

Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie tweeted he was “Very sad” to hear of the death.

The international lifestyle clothing brand, now also sported by America’s Cup yacht crews and around-the-world teams, was established in 1963 in Manchester.

He partnered Angus Lloyd to form Henri-Lloyd Limited.

Mr Strzelecki, or Henri as he was known to friends and colleagues, believed that sports clothing could be improved and worked to find ways to make it happen.

This was in the days when materials made from artificial fibres were in their infancy.

From the early days of working from an old chapel in Manchester, the firm now proudly boasts a global reputation for pioneering new technologies.

These include the use of the 1960s wonder material Bri-Nylon, hand taped seams for waterproofing and the first use of Velcro in clothing.

Sailors such as Olympic champion Shirley Robertson, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and adventurer Sir Rannulph 
Fiennes have all worked with the brand.

Mr Strzelecki, who was born in Brodnica, fled occupied Poland to join the Polish 2nd Corps in Italy.

It became part of the British Eighth Army. He fought in many Second World War campaigns, notably the liberation of Bologna, earning medals from Polish and British authorities.