Our Story

Come and explore our history. Linton’s has been proudly running since 1912, with over a century of craftsmanship and creativity woven into every fabric. As we celebrate our rich past, we look forward to making new history together.

Linton History

1920s - 1930s -
Letters from Chanel

In our archives we hold a remarkable collection of letters exchanged between Linton and Chanel during the 1920s and 1930s. These historic correspondences capture the early days of our partnership and offer a fascinating glimpse into one of our most enduring collaborations.
1940s -
America

In the 1940s, we proudly showcased our fabrics for the first time in America, marking the beginning of a lasting presence in this important market. Over the decades, we have been fortunate to build strong relationships with loyal customers across the United States, and America remains a market where our business continues to thrive to this day.
1960s - Present -
Walker Family

The Walker family have proudly led Lintons since the 1960s, when Leslie Walker took over the company and, alongside his wife Carole, worked tirelessly to secure its future. In the 1990s, their son Keith Walker took the reins, guiding Lintons through decades of growth and success. In 2022, the third generation of the family continued the legacy, with brothers Duncan and Ross Walker becoming joint Managing Directors.
This picture shows Carole Walker, Keith Walker, and Ross & Duncan Walker.
1990 -
Sunday Telegraph

We were proudly featured in the Sunday Telegraph in 1990, during the tenure of then Managing Director Leslie Walker. The article highlighted our flourishing partnership with Chanel, showcasing the strength and success of our booming trade at the time
1991 -
Queen Award for Export

In 1991, Linton Tweeds received the Queen’s Award for Export, one of the most prestigious business honours in the United Kingdom. The award recognises outstanding achievement in international trade, celebrating companies that demonstrate exceptional growth and success in exporting their products worldwide. This accolade highlighted Linton’s reputation for quality and craftsmanship and its growing influence in global luxury fashion markets.
2014 -
Showcasing our Tweeds at Dumfries House

In 2014, we were honoured with the opportunity to showcase our fabrics at a prestigious event held at Dumfries House, organised and attended by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, now King Charles III. The occasion was a remarkable recognition of our craftsmanship, and the accompanying image captures the proud moment when our now Managing Director personally met His Royal Highness
2015 -
Princess Alexandra Visits the Factory

In 2015, we were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, to our mill and design studio. During her visit, Princess Alexandra toured our workshop, met our talented team of designers and makers, and learned about the heritage techniques that inspire our work today. Her warm interest and gracious presence made the occasion unforgettable, and it remains a proud milestone in our studio’s history
2025 -
Chinese Relationship

In March 2025, our Managing Director Ross and Duncan Walker hosted a special event in collaboration with the British Consulate in Shanghai to further strengthen our growing relationship with customers in China.
2025 -
EDEN JACKET SEWING PATTERN

Linton launched their first sewing pattern in April in collaboration with Alison Smith's school of sewing, A renowned British expert in dressmaking and tailoring. 'Eden' a beginner's cropped style edge to edge jacket pattern was created to inspire a Linton following to attempt and make their own tweed jacket. A three day sewing retreat took place in a little village on the west bank of the River Eden in the north end of the Eden valley. Eight sewers under Alison's expert teaching and technical eye created their own bespoke tailored jacket in Linton Tweeds cloth.

Alison Smith (MBE) School of Sewing founder

Local home sewer Julie McDermott

1920s - 1930s
1940s
1960s - Present
1990
1991
2014
2015
2025
2025

History of Linton Tweeds

Linton Tweeds was founded in 1912 by William Linton in Carlisle, England, as a small family business collecting and selling local wools. Its reputation grew quickly when Paris couturier Captain Molyneux introduced Linton to Coco Chanel, creating a lasting connection with haute couture. By the mid-20th century the company was supplying distinctive, high-quality fabrics to fashion houses across Europe and America, becoming known for the classic Chanel-style tweed.

From the late 1960s the Walker family guided the business into a new era, introducing innovative yarns, modern dyeing techniques and a wider colour palette while expanding into markets from Tokyo to New York. Today, under the leadership of Ross and Duncan Walker, Linton Tweeds blends more than a century of heritage with contemporary design and sustainable practices, keeping its luxurious fabrics at the heart of leading designers’ collections worldwide.

Linton & Chanel

The story of Linton Tweeds is intertwined with Coco Chanel and the distinguished house of Chanel—one of the finest examples of British textile craftsmanship meeting French couture elegance.

In the 1920s, William Linton of Carlisle was introduced to Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel by his friend, Captain Edward Molyneux, a Parisian couturier.

By 1928, Chanel had begun using Linton Tweeds in her collections; impressed with their quality, colour, texture and the drape of Linton’s fabrics, she established an ongoing working relationship with the mill.

Through changing leadership and shifting fashion trends, the Chanel–Linton partnership stayed strong. As Chanel expanded into ready-to-wear, Linton tweeds continued to bring couture quality to a wider audience. Later generations of the Linton/Walker family refined the fabrics’ weight, texture and colour while preserving their signature richness and craftsmanship.

Today Chanel remains one of Linton Tweeds’ most prestigious clients. Each season the mill creates new, innovative fabrics that meet the exacting standards of haute couture and luxury ready-to-wear.

Modern History

In 2021, Ross and Duncan Walker, the third generation of the Walker family, became managing directors of Linton Tweeds. They have set out to modernise the mill, investing in new technology and techniques to increase capabilities and push the boundaries of what can be produced for customers around the world.

While continuing our long-standing collaborations with prestigious fashion houses such as Chanel, Linton is also expanding into new markets, including the rapidly growing Chinese luxury market, ensuring that our tradition of craftsmanship evolves to meet the demands of a global audience.