Experience, tradition, dedication, patience - words which knit together to explain why Johnstons of Elgin is one of Scotland’s most renowned textile manufacturing brands and a world leader in the production of premium quality cashmere and woollens.

With a longstanding reputation for superb craftsmanship, the foundations of Johnstons’ standing at the pinnacle of the fine textiles industry are firmly rooted in its past. Its story started more than two centuries ago when, in 1797, Alexander Johnston opened the Newmill on the banks of the River Lossie in Elgin. The company still operates its weaving mill on the same site today.

That continuity is key to the company’s success. Today, as well as the Elgin weaving mill, it also runs a knitting mill at Hawick and employs more than 1000 people. The apprentices at its Hawick training centre are learning craft skills from people who, in some cases, have been working at the company for 50 years or more, who in turn learnt the same disciplines handed down those before them.

Quality honed over two centuries

As a company, Johnstons is extremely of this lineage, built on tradition, dedication, experience and the patience to learn. In an age where the overwhelming majority of textile manufacturing is given over to automation, Johnstons is proud to keep alive the rare artisanal talents of a bygone age, passed down from generation to generation. It sets the company apart from its rivals, giving it a unique position in the heritage of the textile industry, and making its products highly sought after.

Johnstons is now the only manufacturer in Scotland which still processes cashmere and wool from their raw, natural state all the way through to the final product entirely in house - a production line which involves more than 30 meticulously observed processes. It chooses only the very finest quality raw materials sourced from around the world - cashmere from Mongolia and China, wool from Australia -  to be shaped and crafted using the skills honed over two centuries.

The end results, its apparel cloth, knitwear and accessories, are sought after amongst the world’s leading luxury clothing brands. Amongst its clothing ranges, it produces the finest cashmere and lambswool knitwear cardigans and jumpers, designed for exceptional softness, warmth and comfort. It also creates numerous collections of luxury knitted accessories, from hats to gloves, socks to scarves.

Its men’s and women’s collections include coats, jackets, skirts, ties and loungewear, woven in a variety of apparel cloths, including superfine merino and cashmere blends. Its tweeds are also in high demand, earning Johnstons the Royal Warrant of Appointment for producing estate tweed for HRH The Prince of Wales, Duke of Rothesay.

In addition to clothing, the company also produces an outstanding range of luxury home furnishings, including wonderful knitted and woven blankets and throws in a variety of styles. Its furnishing fabrics can also be purchased directly, covering a wide variety of styles from plain colours to tartan.

Only the finest

As Scotland’s leading retailer of cashmere and fine woollens, House of Cashmere stocks only the finest quality products from only the very best Scottish and UK manufacturers. We take a lot of pride and pleasure in working with producers with the traditions and standards of Johnstons of Elgin, meaning we can bring our customers the very best there is available.