Luxury sock and knitwear manufacturer Corgi welcomed HRH The Princess Royal to the company’s factory in Wales this week, in her role as President of the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT).

The visit also marked the launch of Corgi and BBC Studios’ Doctor Who range, featuring the knitwear worn by Jodie Whittaker in the latest series of the BBC One show.

Founded in the small mining town of Ammanford, Wales in 1892 by Rhys Jones, Corgi is now run by the fifth generation of the same Jones family. Today the company employs around 65 people to design, make and sell an extensive range, including hand-framed knitted garments, accessories and hand-finished socks, using high quality yarns from around the world from the purest cashmere to the finest Egyptian cotton.

Corgi was awarded a Royal Warrant by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1988, and continues to supply the Royal family with knitted goods. It supplies leading luxury brands including Balenciaga, Burberry, Thom Browne and Margaret Howell, as well as producing collaborations with partners such as Loake footwear.

All products are designed, made and hand-finished in the heart of Wales by highly skilled and devoted craftspeople, using a combination of traditional and modern methods that are unique to Corgi.

All products are designed, made and hand-finished in the heart of Wales by highly skilled and devoted craftspeople, using a combination of traditional and modern methods that are unique to Corgi.

The company has developed a reputation as a leading luxury sock and knitwear brand and sells to more than 30 countries around the world. Exports account for around 50% of the business, with the US at the company’s leading international market followed by Japan. Corgi opened its first store in China in December and expects the country to overtake Japan as the second biggest export market this year, explained Chris Jones, the company’s Joint Managing Director.

He added that the company is having its busiest spring in many years.

Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT, said: “The UKFT President, HRH The Princes Royal, first visited the Corgi factory in 1986 and we are delighted to return to see a company that is thriving, with a growing global reputation for quality and creativity. Corgi is a great example of a company that combines skilled craftsmanship with innovation, and is committed to manufacturing in Wales.”

Corgi made the official scarf and socks for the first Doctor Who in 1963 so the latest collaboration has been designed for a new generation by costumer designer Ray Holman with the next generation of the family-run firm . The range includes 100% cashmere socks, 100% wool socks, a 100% cashmere scarf, a 100% wool scarf and a hand-made cashmere and cotton blend jumper.

Lisa Wood, Creative Designer and Corgi Joint Managing Director, said: “For a family company, creating these pieces for Doctor Who, just like my dad did in 1963, has been incredibly exciting and an honour to be part of. This visit was a great opportunity to showcase the joint project to HRH The Princess Royal, who was presented with a luxury scarf and a pair of socks from the Doctor Who range.”

Ray Holman, Costume Designer, said: “I chose to work with Corgi after visiting the factory and seeing the high quality materials they use and the beautiful products they create. As a small company in the heart of Wales the craft of knitting is still very much alive and we were able to use these skills in the creation of the jumpers, socks and scarves for this range. It has been a pleasure to work with Corgi and create such a wonderful range of garments for The Doctor.”

The range is now available to buy on Corgi’s website here with prices ranging from £19 to £225.

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