John Smedley
John Smedley is English knitwear made in the same Derbyshire mill since 1784.
Founded
1784, Lea Mills, Derbyshire
Run by
The Smedley family, now in its eighth generation
Known for
Merino jumpers and Sea Island cotton polos
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Brand details
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Founded
- 1784
- Subcategory
- Clothing Knitwear
- Values
- Made in England Fully-fashioned knitting Royal Warrant
- Price level
- Premium
- Style
- Timeless / Classic Artisan / Heritage
- Shipping
- Ships to the US from the mill in the UK by express courier in 3 to 5 business days. $15, free over $500. Duties and taxes may be prepaid at checkout.
- Made in
- England
- Official site
- johnsmedley.comen-us
- Last verified
- November 2, 2026
Bestsellers
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Where John Smedley comes from
John Smedley was founded in 1784 at Lea Mills in the Derbyshire Peak District, and says its mill is the world’s oldest continuously operating factory still manufacturing. In the 19th century, under John Smedley II, it became known for fine merino underwear and installed Britain’s first fully fashioned knitting machines, and in 1876 it registered the Jay Bird trademark. It launched its Sea Island Cotton three-button polo in 1932, and received a Royal Warrant in 2013. The company says it is run by the Smedley family, now in its eighth generation. It sells jumpers, cardigans, polo shirts, t-shirts, jackets, accessories and women’s knitwear, and has stores in London including one on Jermyn Street.
What John Smedley stands for
The brand says every garment is made in England at its Derbyshire mill, using fully-fashioned knitting, where each panel is knitted to shape rather than cut and sewn. Its Extra Fine Merino wool comes from 28 farms on New Zealand’s South Island and is spun in Borgosesia, Italy, and its Sea Island Cotton is grown in California. It also uses British wool, and says its knitwear is responsibly made with best-practice manufacturing. Its pages do not give certifications or sustainability figures. Product pages state “Made in England” and describe the fabric, but we did not see fibre percentages. We haven’t tested any of the products.
What you’ll pay
John Smedley is premium. These are regular prices on its US store on November 2, 2026, from the first 24 styles listed in each category, with none marked down:
- Polo shirts: $345 to $490 (most long-sleeve merino styles $445 to $480)
- Jumpers: $400 to $545 (typically $425)
- Cardigans: $460 for most styles
Here’s what our featured pieces are:
| Piece | Price | Main material | Made in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belper Polo Shirt | $470 | Extra fine merino wool | England |
| Tapton Quarter-Zip Jumper | $545 | Extra fine merino wool | England |
| Bradrick Cardigan | $460 | Extra fine merino wool | England |
| Noah Polo Shirt | $345 | Sea Island Cotton | England |
| Hawley Roll-Neck Jumper | $400 | Sea Island Cotton | England |
| Marcus Jumper | $435 | Extra fine merino wool | England |
Ordering from the US
John Smedley dispatches every order from its mill in the UK, with US delivery by express courier in 3 to 5 business days. Shipping costs $15 and is free on orders over $500. Its terms say orders outside the UK may be subject to import duties and taxes, which may be prepaid where stated at checkout and otherwise are your responsibility. You have 14 days from delivery to return items that are unworn, in resellable condition and have their tags attached, using a prepaid DHL label from its returns portal. A fee equivalent to $23 is deducted from your refund unless the item is faulty, and refunds are processed within 14 days of receipt. International orders can’t be exchanged, duties and taxes outside the EU aren’t refunded, and items bought in November or December as gifts can be returned until January 31.
