The ALF Onnie History

Established in 1920, Alf Onnie is a unique family run business based in East London.

Alf Onnie was established in 1920 by Mr Alf Onnie (the current owner’s grandfather). Aged 16, selling dress fabrics, suitings and coat materials with the help of his sister.

Alf was from a poor working class family and learnt is trade from his own father who was a tailor. He was determined to succeed and worked long hours throughout the war years to grow and expand his small business. Alf’s brother-in-law and son-in-law Brian Freedman joined the business, and together in 1956 they opened a shop in Wakefield Street in London’s East Ham.

Brian was the heartbeat of the business. He introduced curtain fabrics, terylene and voile curtains.

Alf Onnie were at the forefront of a fast growing window furnishing market. The 1960s brought the introduction of made to measure and track fitting services, followed by the emergence of window blinds in the 1970s.

Over time Brian’s three sons, Lawrence, Kevin and Jeremy, joined the family business enabling further growth. The business expanded into commercial window furnishings and branched into schools, colleges, nursing homes, offices and TV studios. Many of whom remain loyal customers today.

A second shop in East Ham’s High Street North opened in 1985. This became their flagship store providing greater space to display their vast range of furnishing fabrics, readymade curtains, nets, voiles, blinds and shutters.

In 2012, Alf Onnie was featured in a BBC2 documentary. After Alf Onnie sadly passed in 1996 and Brian’s retirement in 2012, Brian’s three sons continued in the business from their flagship store.