John Smedley Blends 18th-Century Craft With Modern Market Demands
The historic British knitwear brand is navigating a challenging luxury market while preserving traditional manufacturing skills honed over centuries.
John Smedley, one of Britain's oldest clothing manufacturers, is finding ways to stay relevant in a competitive luxury market without abandoning the artisan techniques that have defined the brand since the 18th century. The company's 230-person manufacturing team continues to produce fine knitwear using hands-on methods passed down across generations.
On the factory floor, skilled workers like Tina — a craftsperson with 38 years of experience — represent the human expertise at the core of the operation. Using chalk, semi-circular guides and large scissors, she cuts necklines into knitted garments with a precision that machinery alone cannot replicate, preparing each piece for its final trim.
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The brand's story is the closing chapter in a Guardian series examining high-end British manufacturing, a sector that also includes Hiut Denim's Welsh jeans factory, Rolls-Royce's bespoke customization program and luxury leather goods producers. Each company illustrates a broader effort by legacy British manufacturers to remain competitive by leaning into craft heritage rather than away from it.
For John Smedley, the challenge is balancing the slow, skill-intensive nature of traditional knitwear production against the pace and pricing pressures of contemporary fashion retail. The brand's longevity suggests that positioning quality and provenance as premium selling points can sustain a manufacturer even in difficult conditions — provided the workforce retains the institutional knowledge that no automated process can easily replicate.
Continue reading at Business | The Guardian.
