The Company, whose patron saint is St Catherine of Alexandria, most probably had its roots in a fraternity which worshipped at St Paul's Cathedral; certainly two of this fraternity's Wardens in 1389 were prominent Haberdashers.  Members were haberdashers by trade.  They sold ribbons, beads, purses, gloves, pins, caps and toys.  Then, in 1502, they were joined by the hatmakers' fraternity, and after that there were two types of haberdasher: haberdashers of hats, and the original haberdashers of small wares.  The Company had the right to search all haberdashers' shops within three miles of the City, and to destroy goods which were not up to standard.

Like other Companies, as the Haberdashers became more successful they collected the status symbols appropriate to the times.  Their first surviving ordinances were recorded by the Mayor's Court in 1371.  In 1446 they adopted their first coat of arms (an important visual symbol when many adults could not read), and in 1448 Henry VI granted a charter of incorporation.  This charter entitled the Company to hold land, and so to have its own Hall for meetings.  Of course, other arms and charters have been granted since then.  The present arms date from 1503 (with crest and supporters added in 1570), and the current charter from 1578.

Please follow the link to view the Haberdashers' website: http://www.haberdashers.co.uk/

The first grant of arms, 1446