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 circavintageclothing
from a 1960s cashmere sweater
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
from a 1960s sweater
Courtesy of joules
from a mid 1960s sweater
Courtesy of chezmov
from a 1970s sweater
Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage
from a 1970s sweater
Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage
from a 1980s sweater
Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage
