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The storied Drumohr and Ballantyne were closing down, if not for the Italian investors. The new Drumohr and Ballantyne conflate tradition and innovation, create modern designs by Italian knitters using the best quality yarns sourced in Italy and the UK.
As far as I know, Ballantyne is gone. Caerlee Mills has completely closed, and the brand Ballantyne is now just made by one of the other factories in Scotland. And it's sold for more money than if you just went to that house line from that factory. The guy who took over Ballantyne, while very nice and well intentioned, is mostly doing the job of marketing "bare finished" qualities in Scottish knitwear. Something I think is very important, but it's no longer what the brand was just a few years ago.
The other two you named, Pringle and Drumohr, exist in name only, as far as I'm aware. I don't think they even make in Scotland anymore. I bought some things from them since they were taken over by outside investors, and I found the quality to be disappointing. At least compared to the old stuff.
Video of Caerlee Mills getting dismantled.
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