About Us
Established since 2014
The Albion Knitting Company was founded in Haringey, London in 2014 when entrepreneurs Chris Murphy and Jamie O’ Neill, who had been working in China for over ten years, saw an opportunity to boost the British knitwear manufacturing sector and embrace the need for localised production in UK.
Today Albion is considered the flag bearer of a renaissance of luxury knitwear Made in UK, never afraid to question to conventional thinking and working tirelessly to build on UK’s reputation for craftsmanship and quality in textiles.
A history celebrating the beauty of natural fibres
For both of our founders the love of natural fibres informs and guides everything we do. At the age of sixteen Jamie O’ Neill was learning to spin cashmere in Scotland; at twenty-four Chris Murphy was living and working in Inner Mongolia procuring greasy cashmere fleece to feed the Bradford mills. Thirty years later this passion for cashmere and natural fibres continues to drive our business. Working together with our partners, Gruppo Inca in Peru and Samil & Cape Mohair Spinners in South Africa, Albion is specialised in knitting Cashmere, Alpaca, Mohair and Vicuna and has unrivalled access to these precious fibres.
Recognition for Albion's enterprise
In 2024 Albion’s exceptional performance in international trade was recognised by winning the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. This accolade is a great recognition of the company’s unwavering commitment to excellence and the growth of its business. On July 9th, 2024, Chris Murphy was proud to accept the King’s Award from his majesty at Windsor Castle together with other KAE winners.
Landmark Expansion to the Isle of Man
After ten successful years manufacturing in London, in June 2024 Albion Knitting Company expanded its operations to the Isle of Man with the renovation of a 20,000 sq. ft factory.
Doubling our previous capacity, this state-of-the-art facility is home to 34 machines across all gauges and is designed to operate on 85% solar energy. In addition, the Puro Wash system is estimated to reduce Albion’s water consumption by 80% through its microbial water recycling technology. Production began in December 2024, with 75% of staff relocating, showcasing their dedication and camaraderie and the company’s ability to retain talent.
This facility marks a historic milestone for the Isle of Man textile industry and the social and economic benefits of the Crown Dependency will significantly increase Albion’s competitive edge in the industry.
A rich heritage of manufacturing and skilled craftsmanship
The Isle of Man boasts a rich celtic heritage in manufacturing and craftsmanship, providing a skilled and dedicated workforce. Its stable political environment and attractive business incentives make it appealing for investment.
The island’s commitment to sustainability makes it an excellent fit for Albion as an eco-conscious company. Renewable energy initiatives, like solar power and advanced water recycling systems, support cleaner manufacturing processes. The island’s supportive government, modern infrastructure, and focus on innovation contribute to creating a thriving environment for knitwear production, giving Albion the freedom to flourish.
The Isle of Man is well connected to the UK. There are frequent daily flights from London, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Manchester. There are also daily sailings from Liverpool and Heysham for goods traffic passengers and vehicles. The flight time to London is one hour and the ferry crossing from Liverpool to the Isle of Man is 2 1/2 hours. The Isle of Man is part of the UK customs zone therefore all goods are deemed to be made in the United Kingdom and customs and duties are the same as any other product coming from the UK.
Courier time for sample shipping is the same as the UK and typically parcels to Paris arrive next day and to America on the second day following dispatch
Looking ahead
2025 is shaping up to be another year of achievement for Albion as we look forward to opening the Albion Knitting School in Kings Cross, which will deliver post-secondary vocational education for all those wishing to pursue a career in knitwear.
Accredited by UKFT and designed by industry for industry, the courses focus on teaching practical skills including Stoll Programming, Linking, Hand Sewing and Product Development. The Albion Knitting School training is designed to give our students the confidence and the tools to hit the ground running in a knitwear manufacturing or knitwear brand environment.
TT 2025: a milestone partnership for Albion and the Isle of Man
Also in 2025, Albion has won a licence to supply official knitwear to the Isle of Man TT. This is the first time that licensed TT product will be made in the Isle of Man.
The TT is most famous motorcycle road race in the world, attracts 50,000 fans to the island every year and has an audience in the hundreds of thousands. This is a landmark opportunity for Albion to approach customers directly through the TT webshop and through our own pop-up store at the 2025 Isle of Man TT races.