Scottish golf clothing brand Glenmuir is celebrating 130 years in the golf apparel trade in 2021.
The company was founded in Lanark in 1891 by Andrew MacDougall, who started his hosiery business with a workforce initially consisting of just five women, all of whom were called Mary. MacDougall was the inventor of a new power-driven machine that greatly simplified the design and manufacture of knitwear.
Before the turn of the 20th century the company moved to a new factory on Delves Road in Lanark, which remains its headquarters to this day, and soon the premises were extended to accommodate the growing business. From its beginnings as a hosiery and knitwear factory, the company’s Lanark site has developed over the years to provide a club, corporate, and event embroidery programme, which has been hallmark of Glenmuir’s success.
Marketing and design, customer service and administration and, crucially, graphics and embroidery, are all controlled under one roof, to maintain standards of quality and service.
The Glenmuir brand was created with the specific aim of offering club embroidered sweaters to golfers, through their golf professional shop. These green grass customers remain the core of the company’s business. To develop its relationship with professional golfers, Glenmuir developed close links with the Professional Golfers’ Association, and through its title sponsorship of the Glenmuir Club Professional Championships remains the PGA’s longest standing tournament sponsor.
As part of the company’s international expansion, Glenmuir became a corporate sponsor of the PGAs of Europe, and supported many national golfing bodies in Europe and beyond.
Glenmuir was acquired by the Ruia Group in 2002. The Ruia Group, which also owns Sock Shop, is a family-run textile business based in Lancashire. In 2009, an agreement between Glenmuir and Sunderland of Scotland meant Glenmuir became the official European distributor of Sunderland of Scotland products.
Mansi Ruia, Glenmuir’s head of public relations, said: “Many things may have changed since our beginnings in 1891, but our purpose was, is and always will be, to craft the world’s most loved golf clothing. We are proud to see our golf shirts, golf sweaters and outerwear from Lanark sent to the four corners of the world to over 30 countries. We have supplied the European Ryder Cup Team between 1987-2014, and remain the Ryder Cup’s longest standing retail merchandise partner. We are proud to be the only Scottish golf brand which is based and remains in Scotland, the Home of Golf.”
“At Glenmuir, we put our heart into everything we do. Our heart is in the Scottish landscape, on the links, out on the fairway, and in our golf clothing. Each piece is conceived, created and crafted with passion, enthusiasm and the utmost care. We’re a proud family-run business, with a valued, close-knit team who love golf.”
