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When we think of Scottish knitwear, it’s not terribly unusual for our minds to jump to itchy, well-worn garments, and worn primarily to protect against blowy, showery island weather.
Stylish? Sure. But only of a particular era? Not in our opinion.
With a rich and evocative history of design, it’s hard to imagine Scotland’s fashion exports not being dominated by the old favourites. That being said, this doesn’t mean we can’t innovate and build upon these already strong foundations, and that’s exactly what Harley of Scotland has done.
Harley of Scotland’s story started almost a century ago in 1929, when founder Peter Harley Buchan was motivated to create high-quality garments for fishermen in the area, having spent time in youth learning to fish aboard his grandfather’s sailboat.
The business quickly progressed from producing woven blankets and socks to premium knitwear, the perfect way to keep warm when battling against choppy white waters and chilly sea air.
From there, the business became a family affair, going from strength to strength throughout the 1900s, with demand for the knitwear coming in from all over the UK and Europe, and eventually, to the rest of the world, with demand for the garments reaching as far as Japan.
Despite the incredible international success, the business has ardently stuck to its roots, remaining a family-owned business to this day, owned by Peter’s grandson and great-grandson.
Born and bred in Shetland, Harley of Scotland’s garments are inspired by the landscapes and culture of the North-East and Northern Isles of Scotland, using knitting techniques pioneered on the Fair Isle, Shetland’s Southernmost landmass.
With the surrounding area acting as such a potent well of inspiration, it’s no surprise that Harley of Scotland have elected to let the world come to them, with their factory remaining on its original site to this day.
On the other hand, it’s hard not to feel the love, tradition and history that go into making these incredible garments. With organic colours and distinct patterns clearly inspired by the Shetland’s natural landscapes, there’s a timelessness to each and every one of their pieces that’s hard to resist – perfect as a statement piece to build an Autumn or Winter look around.
One of the key features of Harley knitwear is their traditional linking techniques, which remove much of the bulk that other knitted seams would typically create. This gives each piece a sleeker and more comfortable feel than most similar products.
Employing this technique since 2001, it’s just one of the ways this brand has continued to stay at the top of the pile for nearly one hundred years.
Harley continues to find new fans the world over, with China and Scandinavia being the most recent converts, the brand’s incredible growth is in capable hands.
Dedicated to maintaining their intrinsically sustainable practices, such as sourcing and spinning many of their materials locally and creating pieces guaranteed to stand the test of time, they’re a fantastic choice for those who are both fashion and sustainability-conscious.
To learn more about Harley of Scotland at Brenda Muir, click here.
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