William Lockie is one of Scotland’s most respected knitwear manufacturers, a company whose reputation has been built on more than a century of disciplined craftsmanship and technical expertise. Founded in 1874 and based in Hawick in the Scottish Borders—a town long associated with the production of fine knitwear—the company continues to operate at the centre of Scotland’s textile tradition.
The house specialises in the production of luxury knitwear, particularly in cashmere and fine wool, transforming raw fibres into garments through a series of carefully controlled processes. Spinning, dyeing, knitting, and finishing are undertaken with precision, ensuring consistency of quality and a refined final product. Each stage reflects an accumulated knowledge of material behaviour, allowing the company to achieve garments that are both durable and exceptionally soft.
William Lockie produces knitwear under its own name while also manufacturing for leading international brands, reflecting its position as both a maker and a trusted partner within the global luxury market. Its collections are characterised by clarity of design and an emphasis on material integrity, avoiding unnecessary embellishment in favour of proportion, fit, and longevity.
Despite its international reach, the company remains firmly rooted in Hawick, where its factory continues to operate as both a place of production and a repository of skill. The continuity of its workforce and techniques ensures that traditional methods are not only preserved but actively practiced.
What distinguishes William Lockie is its quiet authority within knitwear manufacturing. It represents a continuity of Scottish expertise—measured, precise, and enduring—where excellence is achieved not through reinvention, but through the sustained refinement of craft.
“Established in 1874, William Lockie is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s leading knitwear manufacturers, operating from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, a historic centre of the industry. The company is particularly noted for its work in cashmere and fine wool, producing garments both under its own label and for major international fashion houses. Its longevity and reputation rest on a consistent commitment to quality and Scottish-based manufacturing, placing it among the most respected names in British and global knitwear.” – Modern Scot