News & Press Releases
- Brook Street Flagship Store Re-open
- 2009.04.06
- After weeks of hard work, our flagship store in London has now re-opened. Designed by London based design gurus Four IV, our store features exposed brick work and wooden features that re-create the look and feel of our famous mill based in Derbyshire.
- With specially built shelving units, we're proud of the interior which showcases our beautiful garments in their best possible light. The store now also features our new branding, with the front of the store adopting the reworked John Smedley logo.
- Brook Street Flagship Store Refurbishment
- 2009.03.04
- All our loyal London based customers should know that our flagship store based at 24 Brook Street London, will be closed due to a planned refurbishment.
- Over the next six weeks the store will be transformed into something rather special, so please remember to check the website for information on our grand opening and events.
- In the meantime, you can still order your John Smedley garments either online, or by visiting another nearby stockist, which can be found by navigating to our "Where to Buy" section of the site.
- A Royal Visit
- 2009.03.03
- John Smedley had the pleasure of a very special visit on Tuesday 3rd March 2009. HRH Princess Anne dropped in, whilst touring sites in the area, to meet John Smedley staff and unveil a plaque to commemorate our 225th Anniversary.
- Greeted by dozens of children from our local Lea Primary school, Princess Anne made her way around the mill, chatting to staff and learning about the latest technology and age old skills used to create our world's finest knitwear.
- Unveiling the plaque, Princess Anne announced her best wishes for John Smedley during these hard economic times, "The way you keep responding to challenges will make sure that you see a few more anniversaries in the years to come."
- Snow in Derbyshire
- 2009.03.03
- With heavy snow showers over the last two days much of England has ground to a standstill. Staff from John Smedley found time for a little fun during lunch break, taking to the slopes around Lea Mills.
- At least it was a soft landing!
- Of course we all managed to stay warm, wearing our lovely John Smedley pullovers!
- Fund Raising at Lea Mills
- 2009.03.03
- John Smedley staff fully embraced the fund raising activities this year in aid of Children in Need. The yearly event saw many workers dressing up in yellow and red with spots-a-plenty, as a tribute to Pudsey Bear the Children in Need mascot.
- A special mention goes to our lovely girls from the John Smedley Head Office, who made a special effort during the day collecting donations from around the factory. A donation pot was kindly filled by visitors to our biannual factory sale, which helped raise our total amount.
- How Do You Wear Yours?
- 2009.03.03
- As part of our on-going relationship with our New Zealand Merino wool growers and their sheep, Personnel from Technical, Sales and Design took a trip to gain first hand experience of the process and the challenges facing the Growers. John Smedley garments were shown to the growers, to give them the opportunity to see their beautiful strong, soft and super white fibre knitted, and finished into a fine piece of knitwear.
- With snow on the mountains and spring in the air, the South island, whilst famous for its sheep stations, also is home to a number of extreme sports and there was just enough time, in a busy schedule, to make a quick stop at the Kawarau bridge, home to the original 43 metre Bungy jump and for two John Smedley staff to take the leap.
