John Smedley: The Worlds Finest Knitwear
John Smedley: Made in England, Rooted in History, Designed to Last
John Smedley, the world's finest knitwear, made in England since 1784. John Smedley, the world's finest knitwear, made in England since 1784. John Smedley’s Derbyshire based factory is the oldest manufacturing factory in the world. Making exquisite knitwear since the 1700s, John Smedley’s design, craftsmanship and quality cannot be surpassed. Each season John Smedley makes a range of classic styles which are recognised for their premium quality and longevity of style, such as The Dorset and Isis polos, and new fashion seasonal styles.
John Smedley 2025 Seasonal Highlights:
For spring and summer 2025, John Smedley focuses on Connections and Correspondence. As we move into an era of unprecedented global change,, people are increasingly seeking out moments of rest, respite, and ease. Concepts of calm and slowness gain momentum, and idleness becomes a form of therapy rather than something that is viewed negatively. In response to this, John Smeldey have crafted a collection and colour palette of reassurance and comfort. This seasons fashion range has been inspired by the correspondence of John Smedley family members and colleagues, found in their archives, written while travelling the world sourcing luxury fibres to bring back to our storied Derbyshire mill. Luxury fibres are central, from the John Smedley Sea Island Cotton - ideal for summer - to Extra Fine Merino Wool and Anglo Indian Gauze, a Merino and cotton mix, first introduced into the range by John Smedley himself in the 1800s.
Wilber Sea Island Cotton T-Shirts:
Perfect luxury for summer, the Wilber is a easy fit fine 30 gauge knit t-shirt with a classic fine stripe. Soft and breathable in Sea Island cotton this style goes easily with casual and smarter looks.
Contrasting Colours
In breathable Sea Island cotton and easy fits, the fashion section of this seasons range centres on a colour blocking and contrasting aesthetic. An elevated classic look for summer, available as Egan in an on-trend Henley collar shirt and Baseford as a classic short sleeve polo.
Anglo Indian Gauze
This seasons Anglo Indian Gauze fabric is available in a classic short sleeve polo which will appeal to fans of the John Smedley Isis polo. Peaks is a fine gauge knit easy fit polo with a fashioned shoulder and polo collar. Anglo Indian Gauze is a mixed 54% merino wool and 46% cotton fibre that was first introduced to the John Smedley brand in the 1800’s by John Smedley himself. The fibre offers trans-seasonal benefits to the wearer, combining the advantages of both merino and cotton. It was a truly unique offering at the time of its inception and it remains a rare fibre to this day.
John Smedley History
John Smedley is over 240 years old. Established in 1784, John Smedley are truly the definition of a British Heritage Brand. Lea Mills, still home to John Smedley knitwear today, was founded in 1784 by Peter Nightingale - a relation of Florence Nightingale and former accountant to Richard Arkwright - and John Smedley (the first, father of the better-known son of the same name). It was set up on a hilly Derbyshirt site, straddling a brook at Lea Bridge, just outside Matlock. The brook was used to both clean yarn and later to power machinery. The mill specialised in the production of muslin and spinning cotton at first, which was sent out to local cottages with hand frame looms. Towards the end of the 18th century, the company had grown to include knitting and hosiery manufacture. As Lea Mills remains open and an operational building to this day, manufacturing the company's range of designer knitwear, John Smedley holds the mantle of world's longest running factory manufacturer.
In 1819 the son of John Smedley, also called John Smedley, began work as an apprentice and in 1825 John Smedley II took over the running of the mill. The mill at this time had already diversified from cotton into wool, and from weaving to knitting. Smedley the younger's plan was to produce a wide range of finished garments, rather than simply manufacture cloth.
From these beginnings John Smedley has grown into a worldwide reknowned brand. John Smedley has become recognised for innovation, quality and style in knitwear. To learn more about John Smedley's illustrious and interesting history, please see our article about John Smedley's history here.
John Smedley Classic Styles
The Isis Polo
The Isis polo was first made in 1932, John Smedley's first ever men's short sleeve polo shirt. The design hasn't altered much over time. The Isis features a fashioned polo collar, 3 button placket and an easy fit. The Isis polo can be dressed up or down; wear with a jeans for an effortless retro casual style, or for a smart classic look Isis looks brilliant under a blazer and paired with tailored trousers.
Isis is a historic John Smedley’s style, showing the timeless nature of the honest quality and elegant designs of John Smedley garments. Over the years Isis has had a direct influence on a whole host of John Smedley polo styles and other garments.
More About John Smedley:
What is John Smedley known for?
John Smedley is renowned throughout the world as a leader and innovator of fine gauge knitwear. 'The worlds finest knitwear' isn't a boast, it's a fact. John Smedley continues to innovate while retaining the traditional hand-crafted finishing techiques and premium quality they are so famous for.
Where is John Smedley made?
All John Smedley garments are designed and made in England, specifically at the Lea Mills factory in Matlock, Derbyshire.
Is John Smedley good quality?
John Smedley knitwear is premium quality, quite simply the best quality anyone can acheive in fine gauge knitwear. To ensure this, John Smedley take great steps to source raw materials. For example, the merino wool is sources a year in advance of the garments production from the best New Zealand farmers. The wool has to adhere to strict specifications, not only in the quality of the fleece but also the welfare of the sheep, sustainability and protection of the farm land. The extra fine Merino strand must be between 18-19 microns in diameter. If you compare this with the 90 microns of human hair you can see why Merino is so soft. Each smooth strand of <erino ensures it’s soft to the touch and makes a finished garment ideal to wear next to the skin as opposed to other types of wool that have a higher micron count and therefore create a rougher, even itchy, feeling when worn.
John Smedley’s Sea Island cotton, used mostly in summer garments, has also been painstakingly sourced, including everything from the climate it’s grown in, its strength, to how fine the finished yarn will be.
Who owns John Smedley?
Since 1784 John Smedley has remained a family business and is still owned by the original Smedley family today.
Where can I buy John Smedley men's knitwear?
Right here: