Johnstons of Elgin awarded UKFT Gold Award

Johnstons of Elgin, the Scottish cashmere and

knitwear label, has been recognised at the 2011 UK Fashion & Textile Export Awards. The fashion brand was awarded the prestigious Gold Award, sponsored by HSBC, which is given to UK companies who boast a long standing record of export success.

“I am absolutely delighted to have received the UKFT Gold Award on behalf of all employees in our team at Johnstons of Elgin,” said James Dracup, Group Managing Director of Johnstons of Elgin. “We are very proud of the fact that we make sought after luxury products in the UK for some of the most dynamic brands in our sector internationally, create employment within our local communities and demonstrate that textile manufacturing in the UK has a bright future.”

Known for their cashmere and tweed products, Johnstons has been manufacturing in Elgin since 1797, and currently employs over 700 people in the UK. Exporting has always been a core business for the cashmere label, and in the last two years the company has grown export sales significantly due to increased global demand. In particular, from dynamic developing economies such as China, where there is an appreciation of British taste and style from luxury consumers.

Other winners included: fashion designer Mary Katrantzou who was named winner of the designer business category; British fashion designer, Christopher Raeburn whose collection is made from reappropriated military fabrics collected the Rising Star category for his meteoric success in exports; and ASOS were crowned the winner of the Retailer/E-tailer category.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the competition and entries reached a record level. More than 300 industry guests attended the awards lunch today, October 11, at the Banqueting House in Whitehall, London, where the trophies were presented by HRH The Princess Royal, president of UKFT, and hosted by TV's Claudia Winkleman.