Top 10 Best Clothing Brands in Scottish Borders

Why the Scottish Borders Matters in British Fashion

Few regions in the United Kingdom carry the textile heritage of the Scottish Borders. The towns of Hawick, Galashiels, Selkirk, Innerleithen and Peebles grew around the woollen trade, powered by the soft waters of the Teviot, Gala Water and the River Tweed. That combination of clean water, local wool supply and skilled labour produced a manufacturing culture that still defines the area. Today, the Borders is recognised internationally for cashmere knitwear, lambswool sweaters, woven tweed and technical outerwear built for changeable Scottish weather.

What makes Borders clothing brands unusual is how many of them still make garments locally rather than outsourcing. Fully fashioned knitting, hand linking, washing and finishing all happen within a few miles of one another. This concentration of skill means that a jumper made in Hawick may pass through a dozen pairs of experienced hands before it is boxed. For shoppers, that translates into garments with better seams, better drape and a far longer lifespan than fast fashion equivalents.

The Ten Clothing Brands Leading the Region

1. Hawick Knitwear. Perhaps the name most closely associated with the region, Hawick Knitwear built its reputation on fine-gauge lambswool and cashmere pieces produced in the town that gave it its name. The brand is known for classic crew necks, V-necks and cardigans in a deep palette of heather shades drawn from the surrounding landscape. Its strength lies in consistency: sizing that stays true season after season and knit densities that hold their shape through years of wear.

2. Johnstons of Elgin (Hawick operations). While the company's origins lie further north, its Hawick knitwear facility is a cornerstone of Borders manufacturing. The brand is celebrated for luxury cashmere, woven stoles and a vertically integrated process that covers dyeing, spinning, weaving and finishing. Its Borders output supplies both its own collections and some of the most demanding fashion houses in the world, which speaks to the quality standards maintained on site.

3. Lyle & Scott. Founded in Hawick, Lyle & Scott became a global name by bridging heritage knitwear and contemporary sportswear. The golden eagle emblem is instantly recognisable, and the brand has successfully translated traditional Borders knitting into polo shirts, quarter-zips and casual layering pieces aimed at a younger audience. Its story is a useful case study in how a regional manufacturer can scale internationally without abandoning its origins.

4. Pringle of Scotland. With roots in Hawick stretching back to the early nineteenth century, Pringle of Scotland is credited with popularising the twinset and the argyle intarsia pattern. The label operates at the luxury end of the market and continues to influence how knitwear is styled on international runways. Its archive is frequently mined for modern reinterpretations, and its argyle motifs remain a shorthand for Scottish design worldwide.

5. Barrie Knitwear. Also based in Hawick, Barrie is a specialist cashmere manufacturer with a reputation for technical ambition. The company is known for complex stitch structures, unusual gauges and an ability to realise designs that other factories decline. Shoppers who value texture, intricate cabling and genuinely soft handle tend to gravitate toward Barrie pieces.

6. Lochcarron of Scotland. Based in Selkirk, Lochcarron is one of the world's leading tartan weavers. The company produces an enormous range of authentic tartans alongside scarves, skirts, sashes and accessories. For customers seeking clan-specific cloth or Highland dress components, Lochcarron's depth of pattern library is unmatched in the region.

7. Locharron-adjacent specialist Peter Scott. A long-standing Hawick knitwear house, Peter Scott built its reputation on traditional Scottish jumpers, saddle-shoulder constructions and robust Shetland-style yarns. Its aesthetic is deliberately understated, appealing to buyers who want a garment that looks better after a decade than it did on day one.

8. Number Six London (Borders production). A contemporary label that draws on Borders mills for its knitwear, Number Six blends modern silhouettes with locally spun yarns. It represents a growing category of design-led brands that keep production in Scotland while targeting urban markets.

9. Eribé Knitwear. Based in Galashiels, Eribé is known for colourful, folk-influenced knitwear with Fair Isle detailing, textured stitchwork and a distinctly artisanal character. The brand appeals to shoppers who want something visually expressive rather than strictly classic, and it has built a loyal following among independent boutiques across Europe.

10. House of Cheviot. Specialising in country hosiery and accessories, House of Cheviot produces shooting socks, garters and knitted accessories associated with field sports and Highland dress. Its products are a staple for anyone spending time outdoors in Borders weather, combining wool warmth with hard-wearing construction.

Materials and Craft Techniques That Define the Region

Borders clothing brands largely work with three material families. Cashmere dominates the luxury tier, valued for its lightness and insulating power. Lambswool and Shetland wool provide the mid-tier workhorse fabrics, offering warmth and structure at a more accessible price. Woven cloth, particularly tweed and tartan, supports tailoring, outerwear and accessories.

Technique matters as much as fibre. Fully fashioned knitting shapes each panel on the machine rather than cutting it from a sheet of fabric, which reduces waste and produces cleaner seams. Hand linking joins those panels stitch by stitch, creating a join that is flatter and more comfortable than an overlocked seam. Finishing processes, including milling and pressing, determine the final handle of the garment. These steps are labour intensive, which is precisely why they have largely disappeared from mass-market production elsewhere.

Current Trends in Borders Clothing Retail

Several trends are reshaping how these brands operate. Sustainability is the most significant. Buyers increasingly ask about traceability, dye processes and water usage, and Borders manufacturers are well positioned to answer because their supply chains are short and visible. Repair and resale services are also expanding, with several knitwear houses offering darning and re-linking for older garments.

Direct-to-consumer selling has grown rapidly. Mill shops that once served mainly local customers and coach tours now ship worldwide, and seasonal sample sales in Hawick and Selkirk attract visitors from across the UK. Meanwhile, collaboration between heritage manufacturers and contemporary designers continues to introduce Borders knitwear to audiences who might never have encountered it otherwise.

How to Choose the Right Brand for You

Start with intended use. For everyday warmth and value, lambswool from an established Hawick house delivers the best balance of cost and durability. For special-occasion luxury, cashmere specialists offer a noticeably finer handle. For Highland dress, tartan and country accessories, the Selkirk weaving tradition is the natural starting point. For expressive, pattern-rich pieces, Galashiels-based designers provide more personality.

Check the construction details before buying. Look for fully fashioned shaping at the shoulders, linked rather than serged seams, ribbing that springs back when stretched, and a clear statement of fibre content and ply. Two-ply yarns generally outlast single-ply in high-friction areas. Finally, consider aftercare: hand washing in cool water and drying flat will extend the life of quality knitwear dramatically.

Conclusion

The clothing brands of the Scottish Borders offer something increasingly rare in modern retail: garments made near where the skills originated, by people who have practised those skills for decades. From globally recognised luxury houses to small design-led studios, the region supports a spectrum of makers united by a commitment to material quality and construction integrity. For shoppers who value longevity over novelty, the Borders remains one of the most rewarding places in Britain to buy clothing.