sweateronline.com - British Knitwear (Support British Manufacturing)

great britain was the birth place of the knitting and textile industry as we know it today.the damp valleys of the north saw the use of water during the industrial revolution to power the big cotton and silk weaving mills. scotland was renown for its beautiful woven tweeds and tartans and hand knitted fairisle patterns, elaborate lace patterns from the shetland isles. we have the wonderful aran cable patterns from the islands off the west coast of ireland and , of course the traditional fisherman’s guernsey sweater. aran jumpers and sweaters too... we have seen our knitwear industry decimated by cheap imports from the far east. just think….nearly every big retail chain on the high street and every supermarket that sell clothes is offering knitwear costing just a few pounds…..the major percentage of the price goes to the retailer…the garments have to be sent halfway across the world….tax and duty has to be paid….the raw materials have to be purchased ….. what is left for the person who