Ballantyne yesterday.
The Ballantyne name has been linked to precious yarns since 1800, when the Scot Henry Ballantyne established himself in tweed trade and tartan workmanship that started to be know and appreciated in their softer versions as well.
Scottish Tweed trade can be traced back to 1829 and started to be characterized by workmanship focused on the study of new designs.
D. Ballantyne Brothers & Co. Ltd was established in 1921, when parallel activities carried out by the founder’s children were united under one name.
The fame of the Ballantyne name grew rapidly, reaching incredible heights in the 50s, thanks to the intarsia technique and development of the iconic argyle pattern, worn by celebrities and royalty. The company had a specific aim: to create high-quality cashmere knitwear and position itself among the finest producers worldwide. On July 1, 1966, Queen Elizabeth visited the company for the first time and in 1967, Ballantyne was given the Queen Award for achievements in the luxury knitwear sector.
The use of the intarsia technique became more common over time, with handmade knitwear and sophisticated workmanship that was unmatched in the world, making the brand a universally recognized icon of style and quality.
Ballantyne today.
Ballantyne represents a heritage known worldwide that, with a history of over one hundred years, has its roots in the world of Scottish cashmere.
Today, it is not just tradition that places it among the best-known brands that have become synonymous with this precious yarn, but also a system incorporating quality and savoir-faire, reflected in the production of knitwear analogous to works of art.
Today, Ballantyne is headed by Fabio Gatto, who became the president of the company after gaining thirty years of comprehensive experience in the fashion industry – a career marked by passion and a unique insight into the world of fabrics. Already involved in the restyling of famous names in the Italian fashion scene, Fabio Gatto leads today with a desire for comprehensive change. He is at the wheel of a brand whose need to reposition itself and aim at modern consumers seeking products characterized by features of the Ballantyne brand, has led to the revamping of the company structure.
The desire to create a high-quality product has pushed the Ballantyne team to identify the best yarn processing techniques, in an effort to reconstruct and respect a part of the glorious past. At the same time, the continuous desire for research and attention to the current needs of the cashmere market worldwide has led Ballantyne to develop increasingly innovative techniques, creating almost impalpable weights and coming upon a revolutionary idea about cashmere: a soft caress suited to all seasons.