Johnstons of Elgin weaves rich heritage of quality

The unparalleled luxury of cashmere makes it among the most sought-after fibres in the world. Harnessing this material for more than 200 years, the best-kept secret of Scottish textile, Johnstons of Elgin, exercises exquisite craftsmanship to bring out its splendour in garments and accessories that reflect true Scottish heritage.

The Johnstons brand is renowned in Scotland and has conquered fashion capitals such as New York, Paris and Milan. In addition, the leading couture houses look to Johnstons for cashmere and tweed to create beautiful fashion pieces that are timeless classics. "We are behind some of the world's leading brands. We've been working with some of our leading luxury partners for well over a hundred years. It's something fairly unique to have such continuous history and such long relationships," says CEO Simon Cotton.

Johnstons is the only company in Scotland with a fully vertical operation - from raw fibre processing up to the finished garment - enabling the company to enforce quality control measures at every point of production.

"The Johnstons and the Harrisons, the two families who have owned the business, see themselves as custodians for the brand. They're not here to make money and leave. As a family-owned company, Johnstons takes pride in a lot of the artisanal handwork that's been passed down for generations," says Nick Bannerman, sales director.

Its dedication to quality has earned Johnstons a stamp of approval from the Duke of Rothesay, Prince Charles, who awarded Johnstons a royal warrant of appointment to manufacture and supply estate tweed cloth to the royal household.

Johnstons continues to gain traction among discerning clients in markets outside Britain, particularly in Asia. Having established an impressive brand presence in Japan, Johnstons is well on the way to replicating this success in China and the rest of Asia.