The Scottish Borders has had a strong heritage in textiles for over 200 years, producing tweed, tartan, wool and cashmere.  Even after the economic struggles over the years the manufacturing still remains.  Confirming the Borders as leading the industry was Chanel’s purchase of Hawick based Barrie Mill in 2012 and the showcase of it’s work in the Chanel Metiers d’Art at Linlithgow Palace in 2013 (video above).

You can visit the mills and various associated shops that are selling the garments and you can regularly find a designer bargain or a one-off sample stock.  Here are the cashmere shops and woollen mills to visit in the Scottish Borders:

Selkirk
Locharron of Scotland, Waverley Mill, Dunsdale Road, Selkirk, TD7 5DZ.  Also has a coffee shop, light lunches and Mill Tours (Monday-Thursday).

Peebles
Holland & Sherry, Venlaw Road, Peebles, EH45 8RN

Hawick
Borders Textile Towerhouse, tells you the knitwear and tweed story and also has a shop. 1 Tower Knowe, Hawick, TD9 9BZ

Hawick Cashmere, Mill Shop & Visitor Centre, Arthur Street, Hawick, TD9 9QA

Johnstons of Elgin and Brora Cashmere share their manufacturing in Hawick. Visit the shop, mill, heritage centre and restaurant.  Eastfield Mills, Mansfield Road, Hawick, TD9 8AA

Lovat Mill, The home of tweed.  Fabrics available by the metre, tweed bags, luxury throws and scarves woven in cashmere and lambswool.  Commercial Road, Hawick, TD9 7AQ

Love Cashmere, Ladylaw Mill, Bath Street, Hawick, TD9 7DP (I have a friend in Sussex who posts her old favourite cashmere jumpers here to be renewed when a hole appears!)

Peter Scott, 11 Buccleuch Street, Hawick, TD9 0HJ

Pringle of Scotland Outlet Store, 2 Victoria Road, Hawick, TD9 7AH

William Lockie, Teviotdale Mills, Commercial Road, Hawick, TD9 7AQ