JOHN SMEDLEY
Founded in 1784 by Peter Nightingale, the John Smedley company has grown to become the globally refined knitwear brand, designed to last, made in Britain and distributed worldwide. With over 200 years of experience, John Smedley has been growing more and more over the decades, consolidating himself today as the best knitwear in the world. Founded at Lea Mills in Derbyshire, a perfect place for the company given the presence of the mill because the stream that crossed the village at the time provided energy and a constant source of water.
In 1825, Smedley's 24-year-old son took over and began to realize his dreams for the company, expanding the business with the intention that all products should remain under one roof from the beginning to the end of process, using only the best quality raw materials. At his death in 1875, the business passed to another John - this time a cousin - who, after his death, left the company to his son, yet another John - John B Marsden-Smedley. This fourth John will remain president for 70 years, during which he will further revolutionize the company, installing state-of-the-art knitting machines and perfecting the company's specialties. In the end, he extended the company's production to incorporate swimwear and pajamas to produce all kinds of clothing items. Since then the company has earned a series of awards and is now a world-renowned manufacturer of knitted products, satisfying customers in over 35 countries around the world.
Between the fifties and the sixties John Smedley became the brand chosen by famous movie and music stars, including Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, The Beatles and many James Bond. In fact the polo worn by Sean Connery in Dr No and the Bobby V-neck worn by Daniel Craig in Skyfall are still present in today's collection.
The first recognition comes just in those years, in 1960, when the company hosted a tour of the location of Lea Mills for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth; a visit that gave John Smedley the title of official knitwear supplier for the Palace. More than 50 years later, the real appreciation for John Smedley was renewed and formalized, as the company received the Royal Warrant of Appointment, again from His Majesty the Queen, as "Quality knitwear manufacturer".
The company continued to go from strength to strength, working with great designers, including Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and Prada. More recently, in 2015 the brand saw its first showcase of London Fashion Week which also announced the start of a new women's label project with some of the most promising talents in the country's design.