John Smedley – The brand .png)
Founded in 1784 at Lea Mills, Derbyshire John Smedley is a British born company that been passed down through many generations of family. Peter Nightingale and John Smedley (his associate at the time,) started of the business which specialised in the production of muslin and spinning cotton. The mill was a great local source; a brook which ran through the village provided constant motive power for the mill and running water which ensured full time production.
Having success with the local community, the company expanded by the end of the 18th century. John Smedley began to run the business alone, and branched out into knitwear and hosiery. John Smedley’s son eventually took over from his father, and set about modernising the business and their production methods.
However, it is the family’s fourth John Smedley who is credited with making some of the biggest changes to the company. John B Marsden Smedley remained the company chairman for 70 years, up until the mid 1900’s. On a quest for versatility within a brand that was known for specialised products, Smedley installed up to date knitting machines with the ability to manufacture much more light weight fabrics. An expansion into underwear and knitted outerwear saw the company grow. By the 1960’s swimwear, night wear and the signature sweater line had been introduced and were selling well in markets overseas too.
Since then John Smedley has continued a steady and successful run. With their unique manufacturing processes, their luxury knits are some of the most sought after, with celebrity acclaim coming from the likes of Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Madonna and Sean Connery.
John Smedley – Classic Styles.png)
No matter what the year is, quality and style are two traits which will always be in fashion. This is where John Smedley excels; having over two hundred years of expertise this English company has been dressing the public for a long time.
Their timeless style partly comes down to unique manufacturing processes which give their knits such outstanding quality. John Smedley is well regarded for their extremely light weight knits, usually 30 gauge – a type of knit that is rarely produced by other manufacturers because it is so delicate for machinery to handle.
For John Smedley their ultra light knits are stitched by hand, sleeves and body panels needing the most intricate needlework to ensure neat invisible seams. Once knitted, garments are either washed or scoured in water from one of the three local John Smedley springs in Derby – giving products their typical ‘soft handle’. Additional processes are then used on garments for anti-shrinkage and machine washable features. Three stages of supervised hand pressing are then undertaken to guarantee each garment is correctly shaped and fitted, with final touches such as neck trims, buttons and labels sewn by hand. This attentive production process provides authentic luxury knitwear that cannot be imitated.
Sophisticated cardigans, pullovers, jumpers and sweaters tend to be the biggest sellers for both men and women. Lean silhouettes, flattering shapes and classic colours are the typical John Smedley look. These wardrobe essentials reflect the best of British designer fashion; with their rich heritage and innovative manufacturing processes. For specialist knitwear that evolves every season, look no further than here.
