Johnstons of Elgin has been making fine woollens and cashmere in Scotland since 1797. While the company began at its mill in Elgin in the north of Scotland, it also has a long-standing presence in Hawick, in the Scottish Borders, another town deeply rooted in the country’s textile tradition.
Between the two locations, Johnstons produces an extraordinary range of pieces, from beautifully made knitwear to scarves and other cashmere accessories. Much of the process still takes place within their own mills, where fibres are spun, dyed and finished with the care and expertise that comes from generations of textile making.
These mills feel like the very opposite of the anonymous warehouses that dominate fast fashion. Many of the people working there have been part of the company for years, and in some cases their parents or grandparents worked there before them. That kind of continuity and skill is increasingly rare.
The mills (in Hawick and Elgin) are great places to visit. Walking around the mill, what strikes me most is the sense of real craft in action - skilled hands guiding yarn through machines, people who know the process inside out, and a quiet pride in work that has been done well for generations. It’s a reminder that behind these beautifully made cashmere hats, scarves and knitwear are real people whose knowledge and experience shape every piece.
