The story of Mackie began in 1845 making traditional Scottish and military headwear for Balmoral. They are now a leading Scottish knitwear manufacturer recognised for their luxury knitted hats, scarves and gloves.
We recently had the pleasure of visiting the mill in Scotland to take a tour of the factory and observe Mackie's process of crafting their modern wardrobe classics.
The mill lies half an hour from Stirling, in between Edinburgh and Glasgow, with everything designed and made in-house. Their factory is very busy, operating 24 hours a day, with teams working different shifts to keep up with demand.
Mackie works only with the best quality natural yarns, including pure lambswool from New Zealand and Australia. For them, sustainability is key as they work towards achieving zero waste during production.
All natural 100% pure new wool
The wool is spun and dyed in England, using traditional methods for a lovely gentle handle. They also use less abrasive chemicals than most Asian wool processors, ensuring a super-soft feel.
During our visit we got to observe the creation of a delightful pompom for a classic Mackie hat:
Making a pompom
Finished pompoms
Using super sophisticated machines from Germany, the quality of their manufacturing is greatly appreciated and used by designers like Paul Smith.
The complexity of a tubular scarf
The end result is exceptional quality knitted hats, scarves and gloves, luxurious to the touch, and the perfect layer of warmth to add to your winter wardrobe.
Explore the full Robert Mackie collection.
