Royal visit to Macnaughton Holdings in Scotland
14/03/2022
HRH The Princess Royal visited both Macnaughton Holdings manufacturing plants in Scotland, Keith (weaving) and Paisley (Kilt Manufacturing) last week, in her role as President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT).
Macnaughton Holdings is one of Scotland’s oldest family textile manufacturing companies and can trace its roots back to 1835 when it was founded in Pitlochry by William Macnaughton. It is still owned today by the seventh generation of the family, Mr Blair Macnaughton.
HRH The Princess Royal was given a guided tour around both factories, where she was shown the weaving of tartan fabric and the manufacturing of bespoke kilts. Macnaughton Holdings under its brand name The House of Edgar is one of the leading, weavers, manufacturers and wholesalers of authentic highland-wear made in Scotland today.
The company has emerged from the pandemic and is currently enjoying strong demand for its products across its three brands: House of Edgar, Isle Mill (furnishing fabrics) and Whitehill and Wilsons (apparel fabrics). Employing over 70 people over three sites in Scotland, the company concentrates on the premium end of niche markets. Product quality, personal service and the flexibility that only a small company can provide are key components of its success. The company currently exports over 40% of its turnover to several markets across the world, of which the USA, Canada, Europe and the Far East are particularly important.
James Dracup, Managing Director, said: “It was a great privilege to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to Macnaughton Holdings, and to be able to present many members of our team to HRH.
“This provides an opportunity for us to say thank you to all of our staff for their hard work, support and loyalty both before, during and after the pandemic.
“In addition, we also celebrate our membership (alongside several Scottish companies) of the UKFT of which HRH The Princess Royal is President.
“Textile manufacturing in Scotland today is regionally diverse, it employs 8200 people, in 562 companies and contributes £844 million to the Scottish economy, Like many other companies our business strategy is based on quality, luxury, contemporary design, heritage, performance , innovation and increasingly sustainability.”