John Smedley backs emerging designer with knitwear collaboration

John Smedley launched a collaborative knitwear collection with designer Maximilian Raynor on 23 October, pairing the Derbyshire manufacturer's fine-gauge production with an emerging British label.

The collection forms part of Raynor's Spring/Summer 2026 line, titled I'll Cry If I Want To. It applies gingham, tiger and ocelot prints in blue, red and brown to John Smedley's established polos and cardigans. The manufacturer first showed the pieces during London Fashion Week in September.

The partnership is a supplier relationship as much as a branding exercise. Raynor, a Central Saint Martins graduate raised in Derbyshire, worked with the Lea Mills factory team to adapt his designs to John Smedley's finely crafted knitwear range. Jess McGuire-Dudley and the John Smedley team supported the project as part of the company's stated commitment to emerging design talent and British manufacturing.

What did the designer say?

Raynor, founder and creative director of his eponymous label, framed the collaboration as both commercial and personal.

"I am excited to distil the creativity of the Maximilian Raynor brand into pieces that can easily be adopted into anyone's wardrobe," he said.

"Growing up in Derbyshire, I knew that Smedley is the Rolls-Royce of knitwear and I'm proud to give my spin on their classic polos and cardigans."

The collection draws on Raynor's family history and Derbyshire upbringing. Design references span 1920s flapper dresses, 1940s military uniforms, 1960s Mod culture, homemade houndstooth coats and mid-century twinsets.

How does this fit John Smedley's manufacturing strategy?

Founded in 1784, John Smedley produces fine-gauge knitwear at its historic Lea Mills factory in Derbyshire and holds a Royal Warrant of Appointment from King Charles III. It continues to manufacture in England.

The company has invested in strengthening UK production capacity. In 2024 it committed more than £3 million to new machinery and production capacity. That investment supports the reintroduction of third-party manufacturing services and forms part of its effort to encourage fashion brands to return knitwear production to Britain.

The Raynor collaboration demonstrates that offer in practice: a small independent label accessing factory capacity that John Smedley now markets to external brands.

The company has also widened its product range beyond core knitwear, adding men's and women's lifestyle products from Autumn/Winter 2024.

Where is the collection sold?

The John Smedley x Maximilian Raynor collection is available from 23 October through John Smedley's website and retail stores. It is a direct-to-consumer release rather than a wholesale rollout.

For sourcing teams, the takeaway is straightforward: a heritage UK factory with fresh capacity is actively courting designer-level third-party production work, and this collaboration is the proof of concept.