Knitwear Made in Scotland - Part I

Ingrid Tait, owner of The Longship, trained in textile design at the Royal College of Art before founding her own label, Tait & Style. Over two decades she sold her knitwear designs, created in her studio in Stromness, to leading boutiques around the world. After two decades of Tait & Style Ingrid turned her designer’s eye full-time to The Longship, her family’s shop in Kirkwall.

Now, she uses her expertise to curate The Longship’s knitwear collection, carefully selecting work from emerging makers and established names, seeking pieces that are thoughtful in material, form, and story. Drawing on her background in textiles - spanning hand and machine knitting, embroidery, felting, and experiments in bonding and fabric fusion - Ingrid looks for clothes and textiles that push boundaries while retaining integrity and craftsmanship. Ingrid remains passionate about knitwear made in Scotland, where history and heritage remain closely woven into contemporary design. With that spirit in mind, here are a few of our current favourite knitwear brands producing their work in Scotland.

Photographed by Gunnie Moberg

TAIT & STYLE THROUGH THE AGES

Granny Minnie

Cushions on a dyke

Mr Sinclair, Stromness

The Studio, Stromness

Barley Boy

Donna Wilson

Freddie Robbins

Granny Minnie

Ingrid

Walter Scott

Neil Firth

Ivy Kemp, Stenness

Donna Wilson

One of our all-time favourite Scottish knitwear designers is Donna Wilson. She founded her studio in 2003 and has since built an international reputation for luxurious knitwear, distinctive homeware, and her playful Creatures. Donna has always been passionate about Scotland’s textile heritage. Growing up in Aberdeenshire, she saw factories close and communities lose not just jobs, but generations of knowledge. With her Knit Shop in Dundee, she’s helping to restore that missing link.

Dundee was once a thriving textile centre, famous for linen, sailcloth, and jute. Today, that tradition is finding fresh expression. At the Knit Shop, Donna has brought together a team of enthusiastic, highly skilled local makers to knit, sew, and link her products. The Knit Shop has become more than just a production space: it’s a micro-factory that combines design, craft, and education. It supports the next generation of makers and designers by offering services to other creatives, employing local talent, and fostering strong partnerships with Dundee’s art schools. Donna and her team also provide awards and support for graduates who are looking to establish themselves within the textile industry. As well as the Knit Shop, Donna partners with skilled craftspeople from across the UK, from Bethnal Green in London to our own island in Stromness. In fact, in the early 2000s, Donna even designed in Orkney alongside Ingrid at Tait & Style.

  • A cozy, knitted pouch by Donna Wilson in black with white stripes, featuring yellow windows and an orange roof top. A striped black and white cushion with yellow windows and an orange handle by Donna Wilson on wooden stairs.
    Donna Wilson
    All Products

    Cottage Cushion

    £120.00
    £120.00
  • Stuffed owl pillow by Donna Wilson, featuring a beige body, maroon details, and yellow feet. Two colorful cushions by Donna Wilson: a brown owl with yellow feet and a green leaf with black details on a wooden chair.
    Donna Wilson
    All Products

    Otto Owl

    £125.00
    £125.00
  • Black and white patterned rug by Donna Wilson, featuring stylized figures and flora designs. A black and grey rug featuring abstract figures and a cat, designed by Donna Wilson.
    Donna Wilson
    All Products

    Me and You Blanket

    £190.00
    £190.00

Harley of Scotland

Harley of Scotland, founded in 1929 by Peter Harley in Peterhead, began by producing hand-framed fisherman’s socks and woven blankets for the thriving northeast fishing industry. By the mid-1930s, Harley shifted to premium fisherman’s ganseys, establishing a legacy of expert knitwear craftsmanship. Today, Harley combines nearly a century of artisanal knowledge with innovative, sustainable practices, sourcing fine local wool and producing knitwear in Scotland using minimal-waste, whole-garment flatbed knitting. Since 2001, the brand has perfected three-dimensional, seam-free knitting, marrying a traditional glove-like fit with modern comfort and luxury. Using soft new wools and cashmere blends, each piece reflects meticulous attention to quality, durability, and timeless Scottish design.

Jo Gordon

Jo Gordon believes in knitwear made with honesty and purpose. For her, wool is more than material - it is resilient, functional, and deeply rooted in Scotland’s long history of knitmaking. Since launching her brand in 1995, Jo has worked closely with mills that share her respect for traditional craftsmanship and the authenticity that comes with small-scale making. Many of these manufacturers are modest in size but large in skill; their commitment to heritage and quality is central to every piece they produce. Using 100% lambswool spun in Scotland and dyed with organic or certified-sustainably sourced dyes, Jo's pieces are often defined by bold stripes, checks, spots, diamonds, colour blocks and zigzags, in vibrant and joyful colours.

Latest Articles

  • Knitwear Made in Scotland

    Knitwear Made in Scotland

    Drawing on her background in textiles - spanning hand and machine knitting, embroidery, felting, and experiments in bonding and fabric fusion - Ing...

    byCara McLean
  • When the Grass Dances

    When the Grass Dances

    Over several years, photographer Rebecca Marr and poet Valerie Gillies have cultivated a deep, shared engagement with the world of grasses. Through...

    byCara McLean