FOR Claudio Belotti, the wheel has come full circle.

When Hiut Denim Co moves from its current base at Cardigan’s Parc Teifi business park to its new base at Bath House Road and the site of former clothing manufacturer Dewhirst, it will be ‘like going home’.

Claudio began his working life as a jeans maker at the Dewhirst factory back in 1968.

But the firm struggled to compete in the global market and 400 people lost their jobs when the Cardigan factory, which employed 10 per cent of the local population, closed in November 2002.

Cardigan was known as the town that made jeans. Its closure was a devastating blow to many families but now that skill is on its way back in the town with Hiut Denim and Claudio has a central role to play as one of the firm’s ‘Grandmasters’, passing on his experience and knowledge to others.

“I went into the cutting department of the local factory and learned my trade; I was there for 38 years. I grew up with the factory and as it grew bigger and bigger, producing 35,000 pairs a week at its peak, I was given more responsibility,” he said.

“Now I will be going back to that site and working in exactly the same part of the factory as when I first started out. It’s fair to say things have come full circle.”

Hiut Denim Co is a premium denim brand and the label was recently propelled into the global spotlight when Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, wore one of their designs during a visit to Cardiff in January.

The family-owned firm has since been flooded with worldwide attention and orders, sparking the imminent move to larger premises and a global order waiting list of three months.

Film crews have rocked up on the doorstep, from as far afield as Australia, Japan and America as once again a tiny corner of West Wales punches above its weight to become a global player in the denim world.

David Hieatt founded the brand with his wife Clare back in 2011. Fiercely proud of their Welsh roots, the couple moved from London back to Cardigan and set about breathing life back into the town’s denim-manufacturing history.

Mr Hieatt, said: “Over the last six months, we have gone through the biggest growth period in the company’s life. We are already looking to be 80 per cent up on 2017.

“We employ 22 people at the moment but are aiming at 25 by the time we move in to our new premises.

“This is mostly thanks to the media coverage we received in December 2017 and, of course, since Meghan Markle was seen wearing our jeans in January.

“We have outgrown our current factory and will be moving to a larger factory in the next few weeks. We will be hiring more Grandmasters once we have the new factory up and running.

“Claudio was there for nearly 40 years, other members of our staff for nearly 20 years. That’s where people grew up and it feels like there is a bit of unfinished business and we did not complete the mission.

“Sometimes going back can be a negative thing but this is very positive. These people have incredible skills and it’s great that they can be recognised for this through what they make.

“It’s not impossible to get 400 people their jobs back. Yes. It will not be easy but if you make a great product and tell your story, then anything is possible.

“Why can’t we beat the rest of the world? We have all the skills and talent we need in a little town in West Wales.

“For me, while tourism is so important to this area, it is important that we are building a business that is here for more than six weeks a year and we are employing people throughout the year.

“That makes the whole town stronger and the tourists then become the cream on top.”

The Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns praised the company when he paid a visit to their HQ last Thursday.

“Hiut is a company that prides itself on doing one thing well – setting itself apart from the highly mechanised industry giants and helping to propel the ‘Made in Wales’ stamp around the world,” said Mr Cairns.

“It’s a fantastic story that once again Cardigan can boast a world-class denim manufacturing company. I can imagine the devastation people felt when the old factory gates closed for the final time all those years ago.

“I genuinely believe that when they go back to the old factory, that’s when people in Cardigan have the final say. They will have felt let down when the original factory closed but now the story will be rewritten.

“Now those same people’s skills are being used again and harnessed, combined with the internet and new technology. To compete on cost is almost impossible but what people do want is a quality product and the craft, skill and flair that goes along with it.

“This is a quality product that is in demand all over the world, with a story to tell behind it.

“With its expansion plans and continued investment in the local economy, Hiut Denim Co is a shining example of a company looking to capitalise on the global demand for their goods – and showing how a little Welsh endeavour can go a long way.

“It’s a success story which can be celebrated and everyone involved can be proud.”