Scott & Charters
Scott & Charters is a Hawick-based Scottish luxury knitwear manufacturer specialising in cashmere garments.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Scott & Charters is a Scottish luxury knitwear manufacturer based in Hawick in the Scottish Borders. Founded in 1955, the company operates within a regional manufacturing tradition that has made Hawick an important centre for fine wool, cashmere and knitted garments. Its principal speciality is cashmere knitwear, including sweaters and cardigans, made through a combination of industrial knitting technology and skilled hand-finishing. The company developed during a period when Hawick's textile industry was moving beyond earlier production of underwear and conventional woollen garments toward higher-value knitwear, particularly cashmere. Scott & Charters' identity is closely connected to this local manufacturing base: its production remains in Hawick, and its work depends on specialised skills in garment assembly, stitching, finishing and quality control. The company also sources high-quality cashmere yarns spun in Scotland, including yarn associated with Todd & Duncan in Kinross. A significant ownership change took place in 2015, when Scott & Charters was acquired by WRA Group, the parent company of London luxury retailer William & Son. Following that acquisition, Malcolm Grant, a Hawick native with extensive experience in the cashmere sector, became managing director. Under WRA ownership, the business invested in a purpose-built factory on Fairhurst Drive in Hawick. The facility was officially opened in 2019 by Prince Charles, later King Charles III, marking the investment as part of the continuing effort to sustain high-quality textile manufacturing in the town. The financial difficulties of WRA Group created a major transition for the company in 2020. WRA entered voluntary administration, but Scott & Charters did not itself enter administration. It continued production and order fulfilment as a separate operating entity and employed approximately 38 people at the time. Later that year, the business was acquired by Begg x Co, a Scottish luxury knitwear and accessories company with roots dating to 1866. Under Begg x Co, Scott & Charters continued to operate as a distinct company. Its role includes serving bespoke and external clients while also contributing to the development of Begg x Co's knitwear collections. Production is deliberately limited rather than mass-market: available reference material places output at approximately 500 pieces per week. The company therefore occupies a specialist manufacturing position, combining Scottish provenance, cashmere expertise, relatively small-scale production and traditional hand-finishing with modern equipment.
History
Scott & Charters was established in 1955 in Hawick, a Scottish Borders town with a long association with woollen textiles and knitted garments. The company emerged as the local industry was evolving from earlier production of underwear and ordinary woollen goods toward more specialised and valuable cashmere knitwear. That industrial setting became central to the company's identity and operating model. Scott & Charters developed as a manufacturer rather than simply a retail label. Its work has centred on cashmere sweaters, cardigans and related knitted garments, with production combining modern knitting machinery and extensive manual finishing. Different stages require specialist skills, including assembly, stitching and inspection. The business sources high-quality cashmere yarns spun in Scotland, including yarn from Todd & Duncan in Kinross, linking its manufacturing process to the wider Scottish cashmere supply chain. In 2015, Scott & Charters was acquired by WRA Group, whose interests included the London luxury retailer William & Son. The ownership change brought renewed investment and a new management appointment. Malcolm Grant, a Hawick native with long experience in the cashmere industry, became managing director. WRA subsequently supported the construction of a purpose-built factory at Fairhurst Drive in Hawick. The facility was officially opened in 2019 by Prince Charles. The project represented an investment in dedicated local production at a time when the continuation of textile manufacturing in the Scottish Borders was an important regional issue. The company's ownership structure became unsettled in 2020 when WRA Group entered voluntary administration because of financial difficulties. Scott & Charters did not enter administration itself. Instead, it continued operating separately, maintaining manufacturing activity and shipping customer orders. The business employed approximately 38 people at that point, indicating a specialist workforce rather than a mass-production operation. Later in 2020, Begg x Co acquired Scott & Charters. Begg x Co is a Scottish luxury knitwear and accessories company founded in 1866, giving the acquisition a broader Scottish textile context. Scott & Charters remained a separate company after the transaction. Its stated role under the new ownership included serving bespoke and external clients and helping develop knitwear collections for Begg x Co. The company is associated with limited-volume production, with output estimated at about 500 pieces per week. This scale supports a positioning based on craftsmanship, controlled production and luxury materials rather than high-volume commodity apparel. Its historical continuity rests on three linked elements: Hawick-based manufacturing, cashmere expertise and the preservation of hand-finishing skills alongside modern knitting technology. The available reference material does not establish a separate retail network, public listing or independently reported financial results.
- 2020
Operations continue during WRA administration
[1]WRA Group enters voluntary administration, while Scott & Charters remains outside the process and continues manufacturing and fulfilment as a separate entity.
- 2020
Acquisition by Begg x Co
[1]Begg x Co acquires Scott & Charters, which continues as a separate company serving bespoke and external clients.
- 2019
Purpose-built Hawick factory opens
[1]The company's factory at Fairhurst Drive in Hawick is officially opened by Prince Charles.
- 2015
Acquisition by WRA Group
[1]WRA Group acquires Scott & Charters, and Malcolm Grant is appointed managing director.
- 1955
Scott & Charters is founded in Hawick
[1]The company is established in Hawick, Scottish Borders, within the town's established woollen and knitwear manufacturing industry.
Products and positioning
A specialist Scottish luxury knitwear manufacturer focused on cashmere, local Hawick production, skilled hand-finishing and limited-volume manufacturing for bespoke, external and affiliated luxury collections.
Luxury apparel
Cashmere knitwear
Scott & Charters specialises in cashmere knitted garments made in Hawick. Its range includes sweaters, cardigans and related knitwear, produced using modern knitting machinery followed by substantial hand-finishing. Skilled employees handle assembly, stitching and quality control, while the company uses high-quality cashmere yarns spun in Scotland. Production is limited in scale, supporting a specialist and luxury positioning.
Contract and bespoke manufacturing
Bespoke and external-client knitwear
In addition to its own manufacturing identity, Scott & Charters serves bespoke and external clients. This activity allows the company to produce specialised cashmere knitwear outside a standard mass-market range. Following the Begg x Co acquisition, the business also contributes to the development of Begg x Co knitwear collections while retaining separate operations.
Brand decisions
2020
Begg x Co acquires Scott & ChartersM&ABackground
WRA Group entered voluntary administration amid financial difficulties, while Scott & Charters continued as a separate operating entity.
Action taken
Begg x Co acquired Scott & Charters later in the year.
Aftermath
Scott & Charters continued serving bespoke and external clients and supported the development of Begg x Co knitwear collections.
2019
Investment in a purpose-built Hawick factoryStrategyBackground
Under WRA ownership, Scott & Charters invested in dedicated manufacturing infrastructure in its home town.
Action taken
The company established a purpose-built facility at Fairhurst Drive in Hawick.
Aftermath
The factory was formally opened by Prince Charles and continued to support the company's local production model.
2015
WRA Group acquires Scott & ChartersM&ABackground
WRA Group, the parent company of William & Son, purchased the Hawick cashmere manufacturer.
Action taken
The business was brought into WRA Group's portfolio, with Malcolm Grant appointed managing director.
Aftermath
The company received investment in a purpose-built Hawick factory, which opened in 2019.
Recent events
- 2020
WRA Group enters voluntary administration while Scott & Charters continues operating[1]
Other
WRA Group entered voluntary administration amid financial difficulties. Scott & Charters remained outside the administration process, continuing production and order fulfilment as a separate entity.
- 2020
Begg x Co acquires Scott & Charters[1]
M&A
Scott & Charters was acquired by Begg x Co and continued as a separate operating company serving bespoke and external clients while supporting Begg x Co collection development.
- 2019
New Scott & Charters factory opens in Hawick[1]
Other
A purpose-built Scott & Charters factory at Fairhurst Drive in Hawick was officially opened by Prince Charles.
- 2015
Scott & Charters acquired by WRA Group[1]
M&A · Leadership change
WRA Group, the parent company of London luxury retailer William & Son, acquired Scott & Charters. Malcolm Grant subsequently became managing director.
Sources1 sources
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