Pringle of Scotland Limited, trading as Pringle of Scotland, is a Scottish premium fashion brand specialising in cashmere knitwear and holds the royal warrant as manufacturers of knitted garments.[2][3] It is one of the world's oldest continually operating fashion companies.[3] The company has its flagship stores in London's Mount Street, Edinburgh's George Street, Shanghai, and Beijing, and is sold by retailers in 20 countries.
 Current logo | |
 | |
| Pringle of Scotland | |
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 1815 |
| Founder | Robert Pringle |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh, Scotland[1] |
Key people | Otto Weisz |
| Owner | S.C. Fang & Sons Company, Ltd |
| Website | www |
History
editFormation
editRobert Pringle established Pringle of Scotland in 1815 in the Scottish Borders. Initially the company produced hosiery and underwear, and have been producing cashmere since 1870.[4] Otto Weisz was appointed as the first full-time designer in the knitwear industry in 1934.[4] The twinset and the ancient-Scottish Argyle adapted pattern were designed under Weisz's direction, which became popular with Jean Simmons, Brigitte Bardot and Grace Kelly.[5][citation needed]
Dawson International Plc
editIn 1967, Pringle of Scotland was acquired by Joseph Dawson (Holdings) Limited, who were later renamed Dawson International Plc.[6] Throughout the 1980s and 1990s 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. During the early to mid-1980s that Pringle become a household name on the football terraces and still holds a nostalgic place in the heart of the casual movement.[4]
In 2000, the brand which was losing around £4.5m per annum was bought for £6m by Hong Kong–based S.C. Fang & Sons Company, Ltd. Pringle has a design studio in London, England.[2]
Management changes
editIn the new millennium, under the leadership of newly appointed chief executive Kim Winser formerly of Marks & Spencer,[6] and Stuart Stockdale the company exhibited at London Fashion Week with new designs based on the company's trademark twinset and Argyle pattern.[7]
In 2005, Winser and Stockdale left the company, and having so far invested over £35m 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.[8][9]
After Clare Waight Keller was appointed the new Creative Director,[10] 2007 saw the introduction of a luxury accessories range. In March 2011 ex-Balenciaga designer Alistair Carr was named as Design Director following the resignation of Keller but was ousted less than a year later do to stagnant sales and poor reception.
In 2012, Pringle of Scotland debuted a Japanese diffusion line, Pringle 1815, produced by Sanyo Shokai.[11]
2016–present
edit
Fran Stringer was announced as the Womenswear Design Director in 2016 and Giuseppe Marretta joined as Menswear Design Director in 2019 [12][13]
In 2019 there were collaborations with H&M worldwide (Pringle of Scotland X H&M) and skater brand Palace (Pringle of Scotland X Palace). In 2020 Pringle of Scotland celebrated its 205th anniversary.[14]
References
edit- ^ "PRINGLE OF SCOTLAND LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK".
- ^ a b Brocklehurst, Steven (9 April 2015). "Diamonds are forever: 200 years of Pringle of Scotland". BBC News.
- ^ a b Elizabeth, Nichols (10 April 2015). "A Dance Takes Shape From Pringle of Scotland's Archives". The New York Times Style Magazine.
- ^ a b c Barty-King, Hugh (2006). Pringle of Scotland: and the Hawick Knitwear Story. Quiller Press.
- ^ Reid, Alison Jane (31 October 2021). "The Luminaries Loves a Cashmere Twinset, James Bond's Martini, Potyque and the Transparent Sounds Forever Lantern Speaker". The Luminaries Magazine. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ a b "The lion prepares to roar". Drapers Record. 2 April 2001.
- ^ "Pringle designer leaves". Vogue. 11 May 2005.
- ^ "Winser to walk away from Pringle". The Scotsman. 23 November 2005.
- ^ "Pringle rocked by loss of design chief". The Scotsman. 12 May 2005.
- ^ "Is Pringle the new Gucci?". Vogue. 28 July 2005.
- ^ Kelly Wetherille (November 2012), Pringle’s Japan Diffusion Line Bows Women's Wear Daily.
- ^ Banks, Libby (1 December 2014). "Pringle of Scotland, a Heritage Brand Modernized in 3-D". The New York Times.
- ^ Massimiliano, Sortino (9 February 2016). "Pringle of Scotland: here comes Fran Stringer". Vogue Italy.
- ^ "Pringle of Scotland". Pringle of Scotland. 1 January 2021.