Our Story
We pride ourselves in our unique story. The mill was founded in 1947 by the 5th Marquess of Bute with the sole purpose of providing employment opportunities for service people returning home from the Second World War.
Since then we’ve gone from strength to strength, cultivating markets worldwide and consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation in fashion and textiles manufacturing. To this day we’re supported by the Bute family and share in their continuing commitment towards the local community.
Situated within the Firth of Clyde, Bute is steeped in history. There is an astonishing array of different landscapes: heather-covered moorland, lush rolling hills, wild forests, sweeping beaches and an ever-changing seascape. These ready-made palettes of vibrant colours and textures provide a continual source of inspiration.
It’s so peaceful, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’re a million miles away from it all. In fact, Bute is one of Scotland’s most accessible islands and only 33 miles away from the city of Glasgow. Which means we can dispatch our fabrics to customers all over the world in the blink of an eye. Bute is not just our muse; it’s the perfect home for our internationally acclaimed business.
We have been a specialist woollen mill for 75 years and nothing matters more to us than quality and performance. It’s crucial our customers have durable fabrics, especially when it comes to high performance environments, so all our textiles go through extensive and rigorous testing in our in-house laboratory.
It’s not just our looms that are at the heart of Bute Fabrics: our people are too. It’s their specialist skills and drive that make it possible for us to be leaders in an international marketplace. As a company, we never rest on our laurels, but always look to the future.