Pringle of Scotland
Encyclopedia
Pringle of Scotland is a luxury knitwear manufacturer and importer. The brand is worn by the likes of Madonna
, DB7 (David Beckham
), Nicole Kidman
, Sophie Dahl
, Claudia Schiffer
, the television character Alan Partridge
and British bands such as The Kooks
, Dirty Pretty Things
and The Twang
. The company has stores in London’s Bond Street
, Sloane Street
and Bluewater Shopping Centre as well as in Japan
and Taiwan
and is sold by retailers in New York
and Milan
.
and much of the company’s knitwear production still takes place today at their factory in Hawick
. However, in common with an increasing number of British brands, many products are outsourced to low-cost manufacturing countries overseas. Initially the company simply produced hosiery and underwear but Pringle have been producing cashmere
since as early as 1870. Otto Weisz was appointed as the first full-time designer in the knitwear industry in 1934. The twinset
and the signature Argyle
pattern were designed under Weisz's creative direction, which became very popular with several celebrities and screen stars including Gene Simmons
, Brigitte Bardot
and Grace Kelly
.
In 1967, 'Pringle of Scotland' was acquired by Joseph Dawson (Holdings) Limited, who were later renamed Dawson International Plc. The company pursued an international expansion program in the early 1990’s; however, they were forced to cut back on many stores and franchisees due to their overly rapid expansion strategy.
Throughout the 1980’s and 90’s leisure and sportswear played a key role within the 'Pringle of Scotland' brand with top British golf players including Nick Faldo
and Colin Montgomerie
being sponsored by the group. It was during the early to mid 80's that Pringle become a household name on the football terraces and still holds a nostalgic place in the heart of the casual movement. In 2000 the brand was bought by Hong Kong
-based S.C. Fang & Sons Company, Ltd. Despite its slightly vulnerable position, Pringle gained a fresh lease of life in the new millennium under the leadership of newly appointed chief executive Kim Winser
, formerly of Marks & Spencer
, and a brand vision and strategy was put in place to re-establish 'Pringle of Scotland' as an international luxury fashion retailer.
Fang reportedly paid £6 million for the ailing firm, which was losing around £4.5 million per year. The Fangs have so far invested almost £35 million in Pringle. Kim Winser and Stuart Stockdale
led the company's efforts to return to the high-fashion status it had formerly enjoyed, exhibiting at London Fashion Week
with new designs based on the company's trademark twinset and Argyle pattern.
In 2005, both Winser and Stockdale left 'Pringle of Scotland' and Kenneth Fang handed over control to his children, Jean and Douglas Fang. By this stage sales had risen to almost £25m with losses running at around £8m due to the expansion. Claire Waight Keller was appointed the new Creative Director.
2007 saw the introduction of a luxury accessories range. In 2009 the brand commissioned artist David Shrigley to produce a short film about 'Pringle of Scotland'.
In March 2011 ex-Balenciaga designer Alistair Carr was named as Design Director following the resignation of Claire Waight Keller.
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, DB7 (David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
), Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
, Sophie Dahl
Sophie Dahl
Sophie Dahl , born Sophie Holloway, is an English author and former model. She was born in London, the daughter of actor Julian Holloway and writer Tessa Dahl. Her maternal grandparents were author Roald Dahl and actress Patricia Neal. Her paternal grandparents were actor Stanley Holloway and...
, Claudia Schiffer
Claudia Schiffer
Claudia Schiffer is a German model and occasional actress, who reached the peak of her popularity during the 1990s, initially due to her resemblance to Brigitte Bardot. Schiffer is one of the world's most successful models, having appeared on over 500 magazine covers...
, the television character Alan Partridge
Alan Partridge
Alan Gordon Partridge is a fictional radio and television presenter portrayed by English comedian Steve Coogan and invented by Coogan, Armando Iannucci, Stewart Lee and Richard Herring for the BBC Radio 4 programme On The Hour...
and British bands such as The Kooks
The Kooks
The Kooks are an English indie rock band formed in Brighton, East Sussex, in 2001. Formed by Luke Pritchard , Hugh Harris , Paul Garred , and Max Rafferty , the lineup of the band remained constant until 2008 and the departure of Rafferty...
, Dirty Pretty Things
Dirty Pretty Things (band)
Dirty Pretty Things were an English band fronted by Carl Barât, a member of The Libertines. The formation of the band was announced in September 2005, after a dispute between Barât and Pete Doherty led to the breakup of The Libertines in 2004. Barât had worked with Vertigo Records and had...
and The Twang
The Twang
The Twang are an indie rock band from Birmingham, England, formed in 2001. The band have released two studio albums - Love It When I Feel Like This and Jewellery Quarter...
. The company has stores in London’s Bond Street
Bond Street
Bond Street is a major shopping street in the West End of London that runs north-south through Mayfair between Oxford Street and Piccadilly. It has been a fashionable shopping street since the 18th century and is currently the home of many high price fashion shops...
, Sloane Street
Sloane Street
Sloane Street is a major London street which runs north to south, from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square, crossing Pont Street about half way along, entirely in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Sloane Street takes its name from Sir Hans Sloane, who purchased the surrounding area in 1712...
and Bluewater Shopping Centre as well as in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and is sold by retailers in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
.
History
Robert Pringle established 'Pringle of Scotland' in 1815 in the Scottish BordersScottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
and much of the company’s knitwear production still takes place today at their factory in Hawick
Hawick
Hawick is a town in the Scottish Borders of south east Scotland. It is south-west of Jedburgh and south-southeast of Selkirk. It is one of the farthest towns from the sea in Scotland, in the heart of Teviotdale, and the biggest town in the former county of Roxburghshire. Hawick's architecture is...
. However, in common with an increasing number of British brands, many products are outsourced to low-cost manufacturing countries overseas. Initially the company simply produced hosiery and underwear but Pringle have been producing cashmere
Cashmere wool
Cashmere wool, usually simply known as cashmere, is a fiber obtained from Cashmere and other types of goats. The word cashmere derives from an old spelling of Kashmir. Cashmere is fine in texture, and strong, light, and soft. Garments made from it provide excellent...
since as early as 1870. Otto Weisz was appointed as the first full-time designer in the knitwear industry in 1934. The twinset
Twinset
A twinset, twin set or sweater-set is a matching set of a cardigan and a short-sleeved jumper|pullover . The twinset first appeared in the 1940s, but is now considered a classic wardrobe staple. - Description :...
and the signature Argyle
Argyle (pattern)
The argyle pattern is made of diamonds or lozenges. The word is sometimes used to refer to an individual diamond in the design but more commonly refers to the overall pattern. Most argyle layouts contain layers of overlapping motifs, adding a sense of three-dimensionality, movement, and texture...
pattern were designed under Weisz's creative direction, which became very popular with several celebrities and screen stars including Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
, Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot is a French former fashion model, actress, singer and animal rights activist. She was one of the best-known sex-symbols of the 1960s.In her early life, Bardot was an aspiring ballet dancer...
and Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly
Grace Patricia Kelly was an American actress who, in April 1956, married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, to become Princess consort of Monaco, styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and commonly referred to as Princess Grace.After embarking on an acting career in 1950, at the age of...
.
In 1967, 'Pringle of Scotland' was acquired by Joseph Dawson (Holdings) Limited, who were later renamed Dawson International Plc. The company pursued an international expansion program in the early 1990’s; however, they were forced to cut back on many stores and franchisees due to their overly rapid expansion strategy.
Throughout the 1980’s and 90’s leisure and sportswear played a key role within the 'Pringle of Scotland' brand with top British golf players including Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo
Sir Nicholas Alexander "Nick" Faldo, MBE is an English professional golfer on the European Tour who now mainly works as an on air golf analyst. Over his career, he has won six majors: three Open Championships and three Masters. He was ranked the World No...
and Colin Montgomerie
Colin Montgomerie
Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31...
being sponsored by the group. It was during the early to mid 80's that Pringle become a household name on the football terraces and still holds a nostalgic place in the heart of the casual movement. In 2000 the brand was bought by Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
-based S.C. Fang & Sons Company, Ltd. Despite its slightly vulnerable position, Pringle gained a fresh lease of life in the new millennium under the leadership of newly appointed chief executive Kim Winser
Kim Winser
Kim Winser, OBE is a businesswoman born in Helensburgh, Scotland and educated at Purbrook Grammar School, Hampshire, England. In her childhood, she was a highly talented tennis player, and considered moving to America to pursue the sport before switching over to business where she joined Marks &...
, formerly of Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
, and a brand vision and strategy was put in place to re-establish 'Pringle of Scotland' as an international luxury fashion retailer.
Fang reportedly paid £6 million for the ailing firm, which was losing around £4.5 million per year. The Fangs have so far invested almost £35 million in Pringle. Kim Winser and Stuart Stockdale
Stuart Stockdale
Stuart Stockdale is an English fashion designer, born in Carlisle, Cumbria. He lives and works in London.-Biography:Stuart studied fashion design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and went on to do a Master's degree at the Royal College of Art...
led the company's efforts to return to the high-fashion status it had formerly enjoyed, exhibiting at London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week is an apparel trade show held in London, England twice each year, in February and September. It is one of the "Big Four" fashion weeks, along with New York Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.-Organization:...
with new designs based on the company's trademark twinset and Argyle pattern.
In 2005, both Winser and Stockdale left 'Pringle of Scotland' and Kenneth Fang handed over control to his children, Jean and Douglas Fang. By this stage sales had risen to almost £25m with losses running at around £8m due to the expansion. Claire Waight Keller was appointed the new Creative Director.
2007 saw the introduction of a luxury accessories range. In 2009 the brand commissioned artist David Shrigley to produce a short film about 'Pringle of Scotland'.
In March 2011 ex-Balenciaga designer Alistair Carr was named as Design Director following the resignation of Claire Waight Keller.