Scotland for the Brave –

Diehard Yorkshireman Helps Make the Best of Scottish Knitwear

I don’t often celebrate a life in this blog, but Yorkshireman James Sugden was a human dynamo when it came to rejuvenating the almost moribund textile manufacturing industry in Scotland. Mr Sugden almost singlehandedly created a world brand for Scottish cashmere and in the process he saved existing jobs and created more. He transformed the Scottish knitwear industry. He travelled the world looking for the finest cashmere. He died at only 71.

Burning Ambition

His lifelong ambition after a childhood in Yorkshire was to bring good quality textile production back to Scotland and in the process he breathed new life into a small Scottish cashmere mill Johnstons of Elgin. Such was his success that he made Scotland a world leader in the export of cashmere knitwear. He established a new factory to the Borders in Hawick in the heartland of the Scottish knitwear industry. He built up from 8 employees to 250 and he helped the Brora company, I am proud to say I have one Brora sweater myself, to become a world brand.

The Nation’s Finest

So very proud of Scottish produce are we here at James Pirie that we offer some very distinguished brands from the nation. We have Caithness Glass founded by a distinguished former Lancaster bomber pilot. We have Shearer Candles which can trace their origins back to 1897 and produce the most lovely and high quality scented candles. And there is the Just Slate Company which quarries at the very heart of Scottish geology to bring natural products that will stand the test of time.  Currently I’m taken with the stag’s head glass and steel bottle stopper which is highly rated by our customers and we have a 20%  reduction on it at the moment.  Or a new product for this month is, our stunning slim and elongated Scottish Oak serving platter is Ideal for serving a wide selection of cheese, crackers and meats, or your favourite little dainties.’ Good food is for sharing’ is branded in this lovely long oak board. Each board  has a hand tied Scottish Oak ribbon and a swing tag making this board a  belter of a gift.

https://www.jamespirie.com/good-food-is-for-sharing-oak-large-serving-platter.html