Who produces Drake's cashmere sweaters/cardigans?

[Dan e gee]

I heard once that 'knitted in scotland' doesn't necessarily mean 'made in Scotland', and you're more likely to be getting yarn that was woven in Scotland and made in another country, usually China.

However, I would not think that applies here.

Now, Drake's don't give much info apart from 'finest fibre from Inner Mongolia, dyed and spun in the most historic and specialized cashmere mill in Scotland.' and 'knitted in the Scottish Borders"

So, does anyone know who:
1) produces the wool, and
2) who who constructs them?

How would anyone rate Drake's cashmere with the likes of Cucinelli, Malo. LP. Colombo, Avon Celli etc., etc.,


Thanks.

 

[Dan e gee]

Anyone? I am thinking of buying a sleeveless cardigan.

 

[Henry Carter]

I would think that Drakes, like most manufacturers wouldn't be divulging that kind of information freely. Not to hide anything but simply put, brands don't need to micromanage the information such as this to sell clothes(only on Styleforum maybe!).

 

[CBrown85]



I would think that Drakes, like most manufacturers wouldn't be divulging that kind of information freely. Not to hide anything but simply put, brands don't need to micromanage the information such as this to sell clothes(only on Styleforum maybe!).

The idea that telling customers which part of the planet the clothing comes from is "micromanaging" is makes me sad for humans.

 

[PapaRubbery]

The idea that telling customers which part of the planet the clothing comes from is "micromanaging" is makes me sad for humans.

But they do.

Scotland.

Some of their materials are sourced from Mongolia, but made in Scotland.

What Henry Carter was saying is that they don't need to disclose precisely who or where they manufacture their garments - it is sufficient to say the country of manufacture - in this case, Scotland.

Unless you want your tags to say "Woven in 10 Anally Retentive Road, Internetsville, Scotland". But then you'd complain when the factory moves across the road, and they'd have to update their tags to 11 Anally Retentive Road.

 

[Henry Carter]

They do need to say where it's made of course, which should be on the tag. That's the law and that's not what I was getting at. What they don't need to say is what factories or manufacturers are making these clothes for them in these countries or to take it further as above, who is making the wool. That's what I was getting at.

Brands outsource stuff all the time, probably more of the time that making it themselves. So to answer the question of who makes it, well Drakes makes it! I do agree that the web store should state where it's made rather than woven, but it shouldn't need to go any further than the country of origin.

 

[PhiloVance]

I have a fair isle cashmere crew neck vest from Drakes. I love it. Got it in December and have worn it all winter pretty hard - very little, if any, pilling although it's not easy to tell due to the pattern. The vest says made in Scotland, for what it's worth.

I would rate the drakes cashmere better than my cucinelli cashmere cream mock zip-up or whatever it's called. The Cucinelli is certainly softer, but I hardly wear it and it has a lot of pilling. Granted, it is also easier to see due to the solid, light color.

Harboring a guess as to the mill : I'm just back from Scotland and took a tour of the cashmere museum connected with Johnston's of Elgins factory. The company was founded in 1797 and bills its acilities as the oldest Textile mill in the country. Interestingly, they do not seem to hide the fact that they are using cashmere from china/ Mongolia. They were quite proud of using only the finest cashmere. They also showed us several chinese pistachio trees growing on the grounds - the seeds were said to have escaped from chinese wools during transport.

 

[johanm]

I think either Berk makes them or they have a common manufacturer

 

[Dan e gee]

Thanks for the replies.
Basically I just wanted to know how some would say it compares to others of the same price range. If it is a top class Cashmere and worth the money.
At £300 for a Single ply cashmere waistcoat/sleeveless cardigan, I thought it could be overpriced.

The Cashmere is supposed to come from top specialist firms in Scotland. Just wondered if the Cashmere was from todd & duncan, Lockie's, Johston's, etc

I am aware that they use a family business in Como, Italy to weave some tie silk. Maybe they use the same family for the Pocket Squares that are Made in Italy.

I have various Cashmere items from Cucinelli, Malo and Johnstons. I would say that all my 4 cucinelli's have held up the best in terms of shape and piling after numerous washes. In fact, they have no piling and no shape change.
If, as is stated, Drake's is Made in Scotland and as good as Cucinelli, then it's worth the money.



Actually in the EU, legislation states that textile goods do not have to show country of origin.

 

[Loathing]

Where the hell did you guys think cashmere came from if not China?
The Drake's website clearly states the the yarn they use is spun, dyed, and knitted is Scotland.
Their claim that they use the "most historic" mill does suggest Johnston's, perhaps. Bear in mind that Johnston's has several different levels of quality intended for different markets, so that says little about the quality of Drake's cashmere. Drake's, however, does tend to overcharge a touch.

 

[bengal-stripe]



Their claim that they use the "most historic" mill does suggest Johnston's, perhaps.

As far as I know, the "most historic" mill in Scotland is Caerlee in Innerleithen (1788) as opposed to Johnston (1797):

http://caerleemills.com/


Caerlee (I believe, that name is very recently) is the historic Ballantyne factory, which is now mainly produced in Italy (although a few pieces are still made in Scotland). While Johnstons of Elgin produces 70% under different labels, in the case of Caerlee it is most likely to be 95%.

http://caerleemills.com/article.php/16/caerlee-mills-history


Just look at this cardigan and compare it to the one in Drake's collection:

http://caerleemills.com/product.php/12/hand-knitted-mens-chunky-cashmere-cardigan

 

[Loathing]

The Drake's cardigan looks quite different to the Ballantyne/Caerlee one, especially the hem and the pockets. The Caerlee stuff actually looks identical to modern-day, made-in-Italy Ballantyne, oddly enough.

Anyway, if you email or telephone Drake's, they may well be willing to tell you. They're good about that sort of stuff... that's kind of their 'thing'.

 

[Dan e gee]



Where the hell did you guys think cashmere came from if not China?
The Drake's website clearly states the the yarn they use is spun, dyed, and knitted is Scotland.
Their claim that they use the "most historic" mill does suggest Johnston's, perhaps. Bear in mind that Johnston's has several different levels of quality intended for different markets, so that says little about the quality of Drake's cashmere. Drake's, however, does tend to overcharge a touch.

Think you misunderstood. I am aware that that Cashmere comes predominantly from Mongolia & China and also Afghanistan, Iran, India, etc. Yet it is the the quality of the water that makes Scotland a top producer, as it does the Northern Italian renowned Lanificio's.
I was just pointing out that you do get a lot of knitwear with wool manufactured in Scotland but made in low labour cost factories, many - however, not exclusively, in China.
They tend to over state the 'Scottishness" in their names and usually state "knitted in Scotland" not "Made in Sotland'.
As I said, I know Drake's is not one of them. However, Drake's say 'knitted in Scotland' on the site', so just thought it maybe made in Italy or, indeed, Scotland. Just wanted to know if anyone knew.
Yes, Drake's does have a tendency to overprice, that's why I was asking how it compares to those others. It's just that they have lovely single ply Cashmere sleeveless cardigans, with a low button stance, in just the colour I want.
Probably going to take a trip to Mayfair and see for myself, as I was going to buy online.
Coincidentally, I live a 5 min walk from the Drake factory. Might take a walk down there one free afternoon

 

[PhiloVance]

Not entirely on topic but thought you guys might like to see some pics from my trip to the cashmere heritage center at Johnstons of Elgin:

http://uptowndandy.blogspot.com/2013/04/8-days-in-scotland-day-trip-2-cashmere.html

 

[VinnyMac]

Probably the same person who produces Li'l' Wayne's sweaters.