Hawico

Hawico is a Scottish fashion and knitwear brand originating in Hawick in the Scottish Borders. Its history began in 1874, when The Hawick Hosiery Company was established and opened a mill on Duke Street. The business initially operated primarily as a wholesale manufacturer, supplying established department stores including Harrods, Jenners, and Harvey Nichols. The Hawico name was introduced during the company’s early years as a consumer-facing trade name. The brand is closely associated with Hawick’s historic textile and knitwear industry. Its production continued at the Duke Street location, which was still being used for knitwear manufacturing as of 2022. The company’s identity is therefore based not only on Scottish provenance but also on the continuity of local manufacturing in the town where the business began. A significant ownership and strategic change occurred in 1991, when the mill was acquired by Jim Thomson and David Sanderson. They established The Hawick Cashmere Company, linking the operation more explicitly with cashmere and premium knitwear. In 1995, the company received the British Apparel Export Award, reflecting its participation in international apparel trade and export markets. Hawico’s retail presence expanded during the 1990s and afterward. Its first dedicated store opened in Harrogate, England, in 1995. Additional stores were subsequently established in locations including Stow-on-the-Wold, Villars, Edinburgh, Geneva, Baden-Baden, St Moritz, Beaver Creek, Tokyo, London, Zurich, Milan, and Sylt. These locations placed the brand in affluent tourism, luxury retail, and fashion markets across the United Kingdom, continental Europe, North America, and Japan. The brand uses different names in some markets. Garments are sold under the Hawico name in Europe, while products in Japan and the United States have been sold under the name Hawick Cashmere. The available reference material does not provide a current corporate ownership structure, revenue figures, executive roster, product-level launch dates, or a current official website. Hawico is best characterized as a heritage Scottish knitwear brand centered on cashmere and related premium knitted garments, with a business history spanning wholesale manufacturing, export, and directly operated or dedicated retail locations.

Hawico traces its origins to The Hawick Hosiery Company, founded in 1874 in Hawick, Scotland. A mill was established on Duke Street, where the company developed as a wholesale hosiery and knitwear manufacturer. Its early customers included major British department stores such as Harrods, Jenners, and Harvey Nichols. During the business’s early development, Hawico was adopted as a trade name intended for consumer-facing sales, distinguishing the branded product from the underlying manufacturing company. The company’s history is tied to Hawick’s long-standing role in Scottish textile production. Rather than relocating production entirely as the business developed, the mill remained associated with the original Duke Street site. Reference material states that knitwear was still produced there as of 2022, making the location an important part of the brand’s heritage and manufacturing story. In 1991, the mill was purchased by Jim Thomson and David Sanderson. Following the acquisition, they began The Hawick Cashmere Company, giving the operation a more defined cashmere identity. This period appears to have marked a transition from a primarily wholesale hosiery manufacturer toward a premium cashmere and knitwear business with a stronger consumer brand presence. In 1995, the company received the British Apparel Export Award, an indication of recognition for its apparel export activity. Retail expansion also became part of the company’s development. Hawico opened its first dedicated store in Harrogate, England, in 1995. Further stores followed in British, European, North American, and Japanese locations. The listed locations include Stow-on-the-Wold, Villars, Edinburgh, Geneva, Baden-Baden, St Moritz, Beaver Creek, Tokyo, London, Zurich, Milan, and Sylt. This network connected the brand with luxury shopping districts and resort destinations, while also giving it direct retail access beyond its earlier department-store wholesale model. Hawico’s naming varies by region. In Europe, garments are marketed under the Hawico name. In Japan and the United States, the name Hawick Cashmere has been used. This regional naming reflects the company’s connection with Hawick and its cashmere specialization while adapting the brand presentation to different markets. The available material does not identify the present legal corporate structure, current owners, senior executives, financial performance, or a current official website. It does, however, document a continuing brand and manufacturing presence through at least 2022. Hawico’s historical significance lies in the combination of a nineteenth-century Hawick hosiery origin, long-term association with the same mill site, a 1990s cashmere-focused ownership phase, and international retail and export activity.

• 2022

  Continued production at Duke Street mill

  [1]Hawicoen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material states that the company continued producing knitwear at its original Duke Street location.

• 1995

  British Apparel Export Award

  [1]Hawicoen.wikipedia.org

  The company receives the British Apparel Export Award.

• 1995

  First dedicated store opens

  [1]Hawicoen.wikipedia.org

  Hawico opens its first dedicated store in Harrogate, England.

• 1991

  Hawick mill acquisition

  [1]Hawicoen.wikipedia.org

  Jim Thomson and David Sanderson acquire the mill and begin The Hawick Cashmere Company.

• 1874

  The Hawick Hosiery Company is founded

  [1]Hawicoen.wikipedia.org

  The Hawick Hosiery Company is established in Hawick, Scotland, and opens a mill on Duke Street.

Heritage Scottish knitwear with a focus on cashmere, local manufacturing continuity, premium materials, and international luxury retail.

• Knitwear

  Cashmere knitwear

  Hawico’s core offering is premium knitted apparel associated with cashmere and Scottish manufacturing. The range is documented at brand level rather than through a detailed product catalogue in the available sources. The company’s cashmere positioning became especially prominent after the 1991 acquisition and formation of The Hawick Cashmere Company. In Japan and the United States, related garments have been sold under the Hawick Cashmere name.

• Apparel · 1874

  Hosiery and knitted apparel

  The business began as a hosiery manufacturer and developed into a broader knitwear operation. Its historical wholesale activity supplied department stores, while later dedicated stores supported direct consumer sales. Specific garment styles, collections, and current seasonal lines are not identified in the available reference material.

1. 1Hawicoen.wikipedia.org