Inside Johnstons of Elgin: Where Heritage Meets Craftsmanship
By Yvonne Edu, Sales & Customer Service Executive at Glencraft
Yvonne spends her days helping Glencraft customers get the right mattress for their business. Here, she shares what she learned on a visit to Johnstons of Elgin.
It was a lovely sunny morning as my colleague Kate and I arrived at Johnstons of Elgin.
As we approached a cluster of quaint buildings, Kate told me about the scale of the company and its importance as a major employer in the area. My fascination immediately grew.
I had come expecting to learn more about how wool and cashmere products are made, but I had no idea just how much this visit would stay with me.
What followed was an unforgettable experience and one that has changed my perspective on Scottish manufacturing forever.
Stepping Inside a Living Piece of Scottish Manufacturing.
There is something quite remarkable about seeing how a product is made from beginning to end. During our tour of the Johnstons of Elgin mill, I had the opportunity to see the entire process, from dyeing through to finishing, all under one roof.
As someone who works within the luxury industry, I found the experience particularly fascinating. We often see the finished product and appreciate its softness, quality and beauty, but it is easy to overlook the many stages, skills and people involved in getting it there.
Seeing the process first-hand gave me a completely different appreciation for what goes into creating a luxury textile.
From Wool to Wonderful.
The tour took us through the various stages of the manufacturing process, beginning with the wool itself.
I saw wool being washed and dyed, before moving through the processes that prepare the fibres for spinning.
One of the processes I found particularly interesting was carding. This involves combing the fibres so that they become aligned and prepared for the next stage of production.
The fibres are then twisted into strands, which has the effect of strengthening them. These twisted strands are known as roving’s.
The roving’s are then spun and stored on bobbins, ready for the next stages of the manufacturing process.
It was fascinating to see how something that begins as loose, natural fibres can be transformed through such a carefully controlled and intricate process.
A Moment That Stayed With Me.
One of the most memorable moments of the tour happened while I was watching the spinning process.
As the fibres were being spun onto a bobbin, a strand broke.
Almost immediately, a worker noticed what had happened. She quickly caught the broken strands and expertly tied them back together, allowing the spinning process to continue.
It was a small moment, but it really stayed with me.
The machinery was doing what it was designed to do, but it was the knowledge, attention and quick response of the person operating it that kept everything moving.
It was a perfect illustration of something I noticed throughout the tour: technology may be essential to modern manufacturing, but it is the people who make the process work.
Where Technology Meets Experience.
Walking through the mill, I was struck by the relationship between technology and traditional craftsmanship.
There is undoubtedly an incredible amount of technology involved in the manufacturing process. Machinery allows the mill to carry out complex processes efficiently and consistently.
But technology alone cannot replace experience.
The people working at the mill understand the materials they are working with. They know what to look for, how the fibres should behave and when something needs attention.
That knowledge comes from experience and in many cases, decades of it.
Generations of Knowledge.
One of the things I found most remarkable was learning that many of the people working at the mill have been there for more than 40 years.
Even more special is the fact that some families have worked at the mill for generations.
There is something incredibly powerful about that.
In an age where people and businesses can move from one thing to another so quickly, seeing generations of families connected to the same place and the same craft is a reminder of the value of continuity.
Knowledge is being passed from one generation to the next and not simply through written instructions, but through experience, observation and years of working with the materials.
That kind of knowledge is difficult to put a value on.
The People Behind the Product.
Before visiting the mill, I already appreciated the importance of craftsmanship in luxury manufacturing.
After the tour, I appreciate it even more.
When we look at a finished wool or cashmere product, we see the result. What we don’t necessarily see are all the stages that came before it including the washing, dyeing, carding, twisting, spinning and finishing.
And behind every one of those stages are people.
People who have developed their skills over many years. People who notice when something isn’t quite right. People who understand the characteristics of the fibres they are working with. People who take pride in what they do.
The moment I saw the worker reconnect that broken strand brought all of this to life for me.
It wasn’t a dramatic moment. It was simply part of her working day.
But watching her instinctively respond to the problem showed me something that machinery alone cannot provide: human judgement and craftsmanship.
A New Perspective on Scottish Manufacturing.
Perhaps the biggest surprise for me was how much this visit changed my perception of British manufacturing.
There is sometimes an assumption that manufacturing is primarily about machinery, production lines and efficiency.
What I witnessed was something much richer.
I saw a business where heritage, technology, skill and people exist alongside one another.
I saw generations of knowledge being preserved, while modern manufacturing processes continue to evolve.
And I saw people who have dedicated a significant part of their working lives to mastering their craft.
It made me realise that British manufacturing is not simply about what we produce. It is also about the knowledge, skills and communities that have grown around those industries.
A Deeper Appreciation of Luxury.
The visit left me thinking differently about what we mean when we describe something as luxury.
Luxury isn’t simply about the finished appearance of a product.
It is about the materials, the process, the skill and the care that go into creating it.
It is about understanding that quality takes time.
And perhaps most importantly, it is about recognising the people behind the product.
At Johnstons of Elgin, I saw a wonderful combination of modern technology and traditional expertise. I saw a manufacturing process that has evolved with the times, while still relying heavily on the knowledge and experience of the people who work there.
More Than Just a Mill.
When Kate and I arrived that sunny morning, I thought I was simply going to visit a mill and learn more about the manufacturing process.
I left with something much more valuable.
I had seen how natural fibres are transformed through a remarkable sequence of processes. I had seen technology and human skill working hand in hand. And I had gained a new appreciation for the generations of people whose knowledge and dedication have helped keep these skills alive.
Most importantly, I came away with a renewed appreciation for the people behind the products we enjoy.
The machinery may spin the fibres, but it is the people who know when something isn’t quite right.
The technology may make the process possible, but it is experience that helps make the finished product exceptional.
Behind every beautiful product is a story and behind that story are people.
And for me, that is what made my visit to Johnstons of Elgin so unforgettable.
