Made In
England
It could be easy for John Smedley to manufacture abroad. In a globalised economy, it may even make sound financial sense. But we think that something special would be lost - that indefinable character that makes something exceptional.
It could be easy for John Smedley to manufacture abroad. In a globalised economy, it may even make sound financial sense. But we think that something special would be lost - that indefinable character that makes something exceptional. John Smedley has been making fine knitwear in Derbyshire for over 200 years. Our family business was there at the birth of the industrial revolution, back when the first factories and looms were being built. That is a heritage to be proud of. And not one to be dismissed lightly.
Of course, looking back should not stop us moving forward. But we stay dynamic by staying put - because it is here in England's traditional knitting heartlands that are found generations of experience and skills in knitting and hand-finishing world-class knitwear. Those unique skills may come at a price. But, carefully nurtured, they ensure the highest quallity and innovation. It is they that allow John Smedley to be acknowledged as the best in its class.
It's a community spirit that we think you can feel in the fabric of what we do. John Smedley was no ornithologist. But he did notice that the Lea valley area around the factory was rife with jay birds. With species and founder sharing an initial, the jay bird soon became the company's 'bird' trademark - it and its many variants were formed over the years, each one becoming a badge of distinction.
John Smedley has become something of a generic term. To refer to a 'Smedley' is to highlight what seems to be a piece of knitwear of an especially fine gauge: the finer the gauge, the closer and smoother the knit. But not all 'Smedleys' are Smedleys. There is a reason why John Smedley's knitwear, and not that of other manufacturers, has become so iconic.
For a start, it is the timelessness of our knitwear - ours are traditional designs updated for 21st century living. Then there is the quality of our garments and the materials they're made from. When we say fine gauge, we mean fine gauge: 24 gauge is where most manufacturers stop, and where we start, ultra fine 30 gauge being the speciality, for which John Smedley is recognized.
The yarn we use is produced using the specially- sourced long fibres required for worsted spinning, handled with age-old craftsmanship, spun with space-age technology. In 1877 John Smedley was one of the first in the fledgling knitwear industry to install one of the newfangled 'Cotton's Patent' knitting machines. The company is as up with the times now as then. Our garments are considered no less luxurious today than they were over a century ago either. Indeed, since then we've worked out how to blend other natural and noble fibres, including cashmere and silk. It's a talent for knitwear that we like to think is unsurpassed. That's why we don't feel much need to shout about it. The best kind of marketing? Anyone who has worn one of our products.
The proof is in, if not the pudding, then at least the wearing.
For a top quality product, you need top quality materials. John Smedley uses only the best strains of Sea Island Cotton, to be branded ‘John Smedley’s Sea Island Cotton’ and extra fine Merino wool to give our knitwear its distinctive lightness and smoothness of touch. We trace our wool back to the individual sheep station in New Zealand. Our farmers could probably name the individual sheep.
John Smedley has an eye for the little things that set us apart. That's why each of our garments is both made from yarn that has already been dyed, giving a depth of colour, and is hand-finished, to ensure lasting quality.
You may hate doing the ironing, but we love it. It's hot work, but it is through the repeated and expert application of hi-tech pressing machines that each piece of John Smedley's knitwear achieves - and holds - its correct fit and shape.
Perfect hand/eye co-ordination isn't just useful in some sports. They are essential at John Smedley. Our expert employee's cut neck openings, link joining stitches, add buttons and complete some 35 other sewing jobs entirely by hand. The process takes weeks, not minutes, but this ensures that each of our garments always fits comfortably and wears well.
We have been ecologically friendly for over 200 years. John Smedley is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty.This means we have always had a responsibility to the local environment. As washing is a crucial aspect of what we do, we draw unique water, not from dwindling resources, but from our own three under-ground springs, rising from the millstone grit of the Derbyshire Peak District National Park. The softness and purity of our water translates into the luxurious touch of our garments, as well as their shrink-resistance.
But, for future generations, we also want to keep that water pure. The water we put back undergoes stringent cleaning processes. We do use synthetic dyes – but only because the chemicals required to make natural dyes washable can be more damaging still. Rest assured that we won't cut corners if it means cutting back on good ecological practice.
Fashion fades, but style remains. The essence of a John Smedley piece of knitwear is a blend of the traditional and the contemporary, from the way it is made to the way it is worn. The result is a modern classicism that looks good with almost anything and looks right at almost any occasion. As ever, the best design is understated. But it should never go under-rated.
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- Left/ Workers in 1947.
Below/ Classic design from 1956
- Making fine knitwear in Derbyshire for over 200 years
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