FASHION /
NEWS
March 12, 2015
PRINGLE OF SCOTLAND: A Study in Luxury Style
PRINGLE OF SCOTLAND
Pringle of Scotland's Luxury Style, Now in Vivid Detail
In 2005, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the brand's iconic twinset and its 190th anniversary, Pringle of Scotland embarked on a new chapter. Clare Waight Keller, appointed as the brand's first Creative Director that same year, was tasked with the significant mission of transforming Pringle of Scotland into a true luxury brand for the 21st century.
Text by OPENERS
A Fusion of Knitwear Passion and Elegant Tailoring
Clare Waight Keller, born in 1970 in the UK, harbored a passion for knitwear from a young age. She earned a degree in Fashion from Ravensbourne University and a Master's in Fashion Knitwear from the Royal College of Art.
Clare Waight Keller
After graduating, she moved to New York, where she held impressive roles as a senior designer for Calvin Klein's womenswear collection and Ralph Lauren's Purple Label menswear. In 2000, she joined Gucci under Tom Ford, participating in Ford's creative vision alongside Francesco Costa and Christopher Bailey. Her debut collections for Fall/Winter 2006, encompassing menswear, womenswear, and the "1815" diffusion line, garnered significant attention and acclaim.
"Inspired by the rich heritage that has nurtured Scotland's beautiful cashmere, I aim to explore new interpretations of knitwear, while also taking pride in the remarkable tradition of Pringle as a brand capable of creating luxurious collections," she states.
Furthermore, the Pringle of Scotland Fall/Winter 2008 menswear collection drew inspiration from the lean, sleek silhouettes of the 1960s and 70s. It masterfully blended Pringle's traditional knitwear expertise with modern tailoring and outerwear. The use of British fabrics enhanced the luxury, with some exclusive Pringle fabrics featured within the collection.
The founder Robert Pringle's founding spirit, honoring quality, style, and innovation, remains paramount. Waight Keller is redefining Pringle, one of the heritage luxury fashion brands, by merging her passion for knitwear with elegant proportions and refined tailoring that features graceful details.
From the Fall/Winter 2008 Collection
A Glorious Legacy of 190 Years
Pringle of Scotland is one of the oldest brands from the Scottish Borders, the birthplace of the UK's knitwear industry. Founded in 1815 by Robert Pringle as a manufacturer of stockings and underwear, it has evolved as the world's oldest luxury cashmere knitwear manufacturer, expanding across Europe, North America, and Japan from the 19th to the 20th century.
Pringle has been crafting cashmere knitwear since the 1870s and was among the first to introduce knitwear as outerwear in the early 1900s. The brand developed the Argyle pattern, now widely recognized as its signature design, which quickly gained popularity among the Duke of Windsor and other fashionable figures of the era.
Pringle created the "twinset," a two-piece ensemble of a cardigan and sweater, originally designed for golf but also suitable for tea parties. Paired with a string of pearls, this iconic classic British style was born. This classic design celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2005 and remains an essential theme in every collection. The company also paid attention to color for men, introducing pink cashmere for men to actor and socialite Noel Coward, a notable Pringle enthusiast.
Pringle of Scotland has been favored by stars of stage and screen. In the 1950s, pioneers of the sweater girl look like Jean Simmons, Deborah Kerr, Grace Kelly, and Margot Fonteyn were among the many women who favored Pringle. Today, stars such as Madonna, Guy Ritchie, Nicole Kidman, Claudia Schiffer, and Scarlett Johansson, along with younger generation stars, continue to be admirers.
