Leek and its society became one of the leading producers of art embroidery in England, supplying several major department stores.

When he opened a store in Bond Street, London in 1883, his advertisements noted the link with the Leek Embroidery Society.

[1] The Director of the South Kensington Museum, Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen, wrote to Thomas Wardle to express satisfaction on the founding of the school, which would "enable classes of females to attend the schools of an evening; it would afford them the example of never having an idle moment, and further would help revive the great silk trade...."[4]: 8 Wardle developed a form of embroidery using "tussar silk" (a wild silk).

Thomas Wardle imported some tussar silk in woven form, but the embroiders were interested in the dyed yarns, specifically floss which was suitable for embroidery thread.

[6] Under Elizabeth Wardle's direction, the Leek Embroidery Society created a full-scale replica of the Bayeux Tapestry.

As the original work uses wool, the Leek embroiders avoided the use of their typical fibre, silk.