Pioneering shopkeeper attaching value to natural fabric (9)
I believe the answer is:
woolworth
'pioneering shopkeeper' is the definition.
(as in Woolworths, former UK retailer)
'value to natural fabric' is the wordplay.
'value' becomes 'worth' (I've seen this before).
'to' means one lot of letters go next to another (I've seen this in other clues).
'natural fabric' becomes 'wool'.
'worth' after 'wool' is 'WOOLWORTH'.
'attaching' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for woolworth that I've seen before include "US businessman" , "Founder of cheap shops" .)