A Visit To Johnstons of Elgin Wool Mill

Being from Lancashire, I'm no stranger to wearing wool. It gets darn chilly from late October, from then on I can usually be found wearing several layers at once to combat frosbite, as well as keeping the old circulation condition at bay. You often that hear we love the Winter because "we get to cosy up in our favourite jumper, soft blanket and a mug of hot chocolate" - personally I never really find the time for that but I can't really imagine a freezing cold night without one of our most loved materials. 

There's no doubt we take wool for granted–it's always been been in our lives–but when was the last time you actually thought about the lead-up process to what finally becomes "our favourite" jumper? Well, as your friendly roaming reporter I headed up to the top of Scotland to visit one of the oldest woollen manufactuers in the UK, Johnstons of Elgin. 

For anyone who hasn't heard of Johnstons of Elgin, these guys are as old as the hills, with a well decorated history. Since 1797 they've been manufacturing some of the finest woollen products money can buy - the fact that their wool is still in such high demand hundreds of years on, is a testament to the company's quality and integrity. They also create products for some of the world's most established fashion houses. Johnstons clearly know the winning formula.

As we arrived at the grounds it quickly became clear that this was no ordinary factory–this was on another level from what I'd seen previously. The beautiful estate holds a museum dedicated to wool and its history, a spacious modern cafe, small food market, offices and of course, the engine room itself, the factory floor.

As we were shown around several rooms, our group instantly realised that there was much more to producing wool than we ever realised. Naivety on my part maybe, but like I said, most of us don't consider the labour that is necessary to produce something we see as any everyday commodity. The amount of stages each piece of fibre goes through before it starts to resemble a scarf, jumper or blanket were frankly breathtaking; with most of the stages being complete by hand or part-machine-part-hand. Luckily the night before we had a quick lesson in all things wool by the wonderful Sheila-Mary Carruthers of Woolmark!

Our tour of the mill took us through each stage of the production; the Wool Store, Dye House, Blending, Carding (for strengthening), Spinning, Warping and Finishing. I was a stranger to the majority of these terms before I arrived–and If I'm honest I wouldn't be able to do each of them justice–but the enthusiasm and passion behind each step presented to us left a lasting impression on how I look at the wool industry. 

Johnstons of Elgin, still to this day is a family-run business, and we had the privilege to meet a handful of the team behind the brand–some who had been working there for the whole of their lives. I even meet the lady who designed my scarf! We gained an invaluable insight into the ins-and-outs of producing one of the world's most loved materials, the history of the company (through the extensive fabric/pattern archive and handwritten ledgers dating back hundreds of years) but also discovered their progressive nature - a willingness to innovate and refine.

There's strong argument as to why we've been using wool for thousands of years, mainly due it being one of the most sustainable fibres we know; 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable. Companies such as Johnstons are really trying to push the limits of wool, with even a mention of a Scandinavian company developing a more sustainable bicycle frame - containing woollen fibres, too reduce weight and use of man-made materials. Similarities can also be found within the world of cycling + fitness apparel, due to wool's cooling and heating qualities.

Producing and trading from our own shores (no matter which county) has a knock-on effect for our economy. It provides many jobs and helps to support our local and national community. It was a real eye-opener visiting the Johnstons of Elgin Mill, and no doubt will have a lasting affect on the way I look at one of our most loved materials.

It was a pleasure to meet the team behind the Campaign for Wool and the wonderful Sheila-Mary Carruthers of Woolmark.

Thanks for visiting,

Mat

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