Frequently Asked Questions

Name: Robert Mackie of Scotland
Address: Holm Mill, Stewarton, East Ayrshire, KA3 5HT, GB

Wholesale

Absolutely. Bespoke and private-label manufacturing is a core part of Robert Mackie’s business, and we can manufacture a wide range of products, including hats, berets, hoods, scarves, gloves, wrist-warmers, blankets, socks and more. Our experienced in-house team can support you throughout the development process, from the initial design and yarn selection through to sampling and bulk production.
Whether you have an established design ready for production or are looking for support to develop an idea, we can work with you to find the right technical and manufacturing solution.
Please get in touch with our team to outline your requirements. We’ll be happy to discuss your project, assess its feasibility and advise on the options available.
Yes. Our dedicated in-house team of knitwear designers and technicians can work with your existing designs and support you throughout the sampling and development process.
If you have an image, sketch, CAD or other visual reference, our team can use this as a starting point and work with you to develop the design into a finished knitted product. We can advise on construction, yarns, colours and technical considerations to ensure your design is suitable for production.
If you already have your own design and technical team, we can also work directly from technical packs and detailed specifications, producing samples to the requirements provided.
We offer different levels of design and technical support depending on the size and requirements of each customer. Whether you need support developing an initial concept or simply require a manufacturing partner to produce an established design, our team can tailor the development process accordingly.
We manufacture a wide range of knitted accessories across menswear, womenswear, childrenswear and homeware.
Our capabilities include:
- Hats and beanies
- Berets
- Hoods
- Scarves
- Gloves
- Mittens
- Wrist-warmers
- Socks
- Blankets
- And other knitted accessories
If you have a specific product or design in mind that isn’t listed above, please get in touch. If you can provide an image, sketch, CAD or other reference, our technical team can assess the design and advise on whether it is technically possible to achieve, as well as the most suitable manufacturing approach.
Our minimum order quantities for bespoke manufacturing are the same as our standard wholesale minimums.
Minimum quantities can vary depending on the product, but our typical minimum is 200 pieces, with a minimum of 50 pieces per colourway.
If your requirements are more complex or you are developing a new product, our team can confirm the specific minimum order quantity during the development process and advise on the most suitable production options for your project.
Our bespoke development process is tailored to the level of design and technical support required. Development times can range from approximately four weeks for straightforward sample approval to around ten weeks for projects requiring more extensive design development, CAD creation, colour selection and multiple rounds of sampling.
The process will typically begin with the approval of the CAD design, colours and yarns. Once these details have been agreed, we’ll move into the sampling stage, which may involve a knitted swatch or a full product sample depending on the requirements of the design.
Samples can then be reviewed and refined through an agreed sampling process until the final product has been approved. Once approved, the final specification is gold-sealed to ensure the approved design and quality standards are maintained throughout production.
The approved product then moves into bulk manufacturing, where our standard production lead times apply depending on whether the order is placed during High or Low season.
Our team will guide you through each stage of the process and keep you informed of the expected timescales, sampling requirements and costs before moving into production.

Manufacturing & Quality

All Robert Mackie products are designed, knitted and finished at our mill in Stewarton, Ayrshire, Scotland. Keeping our production under one roof allows us to maintain close control over every stage of the manufacturing process, from the initial design and knitting through to washing, finishing and final quality control.
Stewarton is known locally as the ‘Bonnet Toun’, reflecting its long and important history within Scotland’s textile and headwear industry. While the town’s manufacturing heritage is rooted in traditional Scottish bonnets and headwear, Robert Mackie has evolved alongside the industry to specialise in high-quality knitted accessories for contemporary markets.
Today, we combine this heritage of Scottish craftsmanship with modern manufacturing techniques and machinery to create hats, scarves, gloves and other knitted accessories, all Made in Scotland.
We work exclusively with natural yarns, sourcing high-quality fibres from established spinners and suppliers around the world. We select our yarns with a focus on quality, performance, comfort and responsible sourcing.
Our core yarn is 2/17s 100% lambswool, supplied by Z. Hinchliffe, a UK spinner with a history dating back to 1766. We stock the full 120-colour shade card, giving us a broad palette for both our own collections and bespoke customer projects.
We also work with specialist spinners including Knoll, Lanecardate, Todd & Duncan, Papi Fabio, Schoeller, Sesia, Shepley and Zegna Baruffa, using a range of natural wool qualities including Donegal, Geelong, Merino, Supersoft, Shetland, Cashmere and Cashmere blends.
Where possible, our yarns are sourced responsibly from high-quality raw materials and wet finished to achieve the soft handle and finish associated with Robert Mackie products. We continually review our materials and manufacturing processes as part of our commitment to responsible and sustainable production.
Everything from the initial knitting to the final finishing.
Robert Mackie is one of the few remaining full-service knitwear accessories manufacturers in Scotland, allowing us to maintain control over the complete production process under one roof.
Depending on the product, our in-house capabilities include machine knitting, linking, embroidery, washing, brushing, textile assembly, hand-finishing, steam pressing and final quality control.
We use a range of specialist knitting machinery, including warp knitting, glove machines and V-bed knitting machines, with gauges ranging from 1.5 to 14. This allows us to produce a wide variety of knitted structures and accessories, including plain, jacquard and stitch-interest designs, as well as shaped and seamless products.
Keeping these processes in-house means our experienced team can monitor quality at every stage, make adjustments quickly when required and maintain consistency from the first sample through to bulk production.
Our standard production lead times vary depending on the time of year and the type of order.
For new bespoke production orders, our typical lead times are:
- High Season (April–September): 10–12 weeks
- Low Season (October–March): 6–8 weeks
For repeat orders placed during Low Season, our typical lead time is approximately 4 weeks, subject to the availability of the required materials.
We work hard to maintain our quoted lead times and will keep you informed if there are any changes to the production schedule that may affect your order. For bespoke or more complex projects, development and sampling times are additional to the standard production lead time.
Quality is central to everything we manufacture at Robert Mackie. We operate a comprehensive quality management system and have achieved ISO 9001 certification, following an independent assessment and certification process conducted by Intertek.
ISO 9001 is an internationally recognised standard for quality management systems and demonstrates that we have robust processes in place to support consistent quality, continual improvement and customer satisfaction.
We are also proud to be a Woolmark licensee. Our pure new wool products that carry the Woolmark mark are independently certified to meet Woolmark's standards for wool content, durability, washability and colourfastness.
Alongside these recognised standards and certifications, our in-house production model allows us to carry out quality checks throughout the manufacturing process. From the selection of yarns through to knitting, finishing and final inspection, our team maintains close oversight of each product before it leaves the mill.
Yes. We work with a range of natural yarns, including lambswool, Merino, Shetland and Cashmere, so we recommend taking care when washing and storing your Robert Mackie accessories to help maintain their softness, shape and appearance.
For the specific care instructions for your product, please always check the swing ticket and follow the recommended washing instructions. As a general guide when caring for woollen products:
- Hand wash in cool water using a wool-specific detergent.
- Do not use bleach or other harsh chemicals.
- Avoid soaking, stretching or rubbing the fabric.
- Rinse thoroughly and gently squeeze out excess water. Do not wring.
- Dry flat and store flat. Never hang woollen items, as this can cause them to lose their shape.
Care recommendations can vary depending on the yarn and construction of each product, so always follow the instructions provided with your individual accessory. With the right care, your Robert Mackie accessory can retain its quality, shape and softness for years to come.

We’re always interested in hearing from retailers who would like to stock our Mackie Wholesale Collection. To become an official Mackie stockist, please complete our New Stockists enquiry form, providing some details about your business and the market you operate in.
Once we’ve received your enquiry, a member of our team will be in touch to discuss your requirements, our current collections and whether Mackie is the right fit for your business. We’ll also be able to answer any questions you may have about our wholesale process, pricelists, minimum order quantities and delivery times.
- For standard Mackie Collection products, the minimum order quantity is 3 items per colourway.
- For standard Mackie Collection products with customised colours, the minimum order is 30 items per colourway.
Our latest wholesale collections are available to view by season under Collections. Each collection showcases our latest designs, colourways and yarn options, giving retailers an overview of what’s available for the upcoming season.
To view our A/W 26 Wholesale Collection brochure, please click here.
If you’re interested in a particular product or would like further information on availability, colours or wholesale pricing, please get in touch with our team.
Yes. Robert Mackie supplies retailers internationally and works with a network of dedicated sales agents across key markets, including Europe, Japan, Australia and North America.
Our international sales partners work closely with retailers in their respective territories, providing support with our collections and wholesale offering. If you’re based outside the UK and are interested in stocking Mackie, please fill out the enquiry form here and we can connect you with the appropriate sales representative for your region.
Yes. We understand that seeing and handling a product before committing to a wholesale order can be an important part of the buying process.
We can offer knitted swatches or full product samples, depending on your requirements. Sample costs are quoted individually and will vary depending on the yarn or composition used, as well as the complexity of the design.
If you have a specific product or collection in mind, our team can advise on the most suitable sampling options and provide details of the associated costs before proceeding.
Yes. We offer a range of Mackie-branded point-of-sale materials to help retailers present the brand consistently within their stores.
Bespoke point-of-sale materials may incur an additional fee depending on the requirements of the project. Our team will be able to advise on any associated costs before proceeding.
Yes. We understand that retailers may need to replenish popular lines throughout the season, subject to product and material availability.
For reorders placed between October and March, our typical lead time is approximately four weeks. This can vary depending on the availability of the required yarns and materials, as well as the size and nature of the reorder.
If you’re considering a repeat order, we recommend getting in touch with our team as early as possible so that we can confirm availability and provide an estimated delivery date.
Yes. We understand that retailers and international markets may have specific colour, yarn or product requirements, and we’re happy to discuss ways of tailoring the Robert Mackie collection to suit your needs.
Our existing designs can be custom-coloured or produced using alternative yarns and compositions, subject to feasibility. Each custom request will be assessed individually and costed according to the yarn, materials and production requirements involved.
The standard minimum order quantities and lead times will apply to customised products, although these do not include any additional time or costs associated with sampling and development. Our team will discuss the available options, costs and timescales with you before production begins.