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The Ballantyne family of Scotland had long been a leader in wool manufacturing and trade. In 1921, the sons of David Ballantyne formed a cashmere knitting factory in Innerleithen, Scotland. The company was known as D. Ballantyne Brothers and Co. Ltd. Throughout the 1920s and into the 1930s, the company developed intarsia designs, and became very well known for their argyles.

In 1945, the company was reorganized and renamed the Ballantyne Sportswear Co. Ltd. During the 1950s, the company moved into the fashion sweater market, developing intarsia designs that appealed to people of sophisticated taste. By this time Ballantyne was recognized as one of the finest makers of cashmere in the world.

The factory that made Ballantyne cashmere knits closed in 2013. There is a current “Ballantyne” label, but it is not the same company that produced cashmere in Scotland.

See also: Cashmere Sweaters

Written by fuzzylizzie


from a 1950s sweater - Courtesy of denisebrain

from a 1950s sweater

Courtesy of denisebrain

from a 1950s sweater - Courtesy of circavintageclothing

from a 1950s sweater

Courtesy of circavintageclothing

from a 1960s cashmere sweater - Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing

from a 1960s cashmere sweater

Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing

from a 1960s sweater - Courtesy of joules

from a 1960s sweater

Courtesy of joules

from a mid 1960s sweater - Courtesy of chezmov

from a mid 1960s sweater

Courtesy of chezmov

from a 1970s sweater - Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1970s sweater

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1970s sweater - Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1970s sweater

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1980s sweater - Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1980s sweater

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage