It starts with the material
Every Navygrey piece begins with what it is made from.
We choose natural fibres for the way they feel, perform and wear over time: wool for warmth, resilience and softness; linen for strength and breathability; organic cotton and our British Jerseys for comfort and substance.
But choosing the name of a fibre is only the beginning. Its quality, provenance and the way it has been spun, woven or knitted all shape the finished garment.
Wool is where Navygrey began - and where our knowledge runs deepest.
A label that says “100% wool” tells you what a garment contains. It does not tell you the quality of that wool, where it came from or the standards behind its production.
We look beyond the label.
We consider the fineness, length and character of the fibre. We check its provenance and certification. We know where it is spun and dyed - and choose each yarn for the garment it is there to make.
Because two jumpers carrying the same “100% wool” label can feel, wear and perform very differently.
'A label can tell you it’s 100% Merino. It doesn’t tell you the whole story.'
Rachel Carvell-Spedding, Founder
The Fibre
Softness is only part of the story.
The fineness and length of a wool fibre affect how a garment feels, how well it holds its shape and how it performs over time.
Some wools are exceptionally fine and smooth. Others are loftier, stronger or naturally more textured. We choose according to purpose: fluid merino for a lighter knit; substantial lambswool for warmth and structure; British and Shetland wool for resilience, character and provenance.
There is no single “best” wool. There is the right wool for the garment.
'Transparency triumphs in this brand story'
The Daily Telegraph
The Provenance
We want to know where our wool comes from and the standards behind it.
Where the Responsible Wool Standard applies, we choose RWS-certified wool wherever possible. This gives us independent assurance around responsible sourcing and allows us to verify the journey of the wool through the supply chain.
For British and Shetland wool, provenance leads. Our British wool comes from farms within Britain. Our genuine Shetland wool comes from sheep raised on the Shetland Islands.
Not every wool can be assessed through the same certification system. That is why traceability, trusted relationships and asking the right questions matter too.
Good fibre can only fulfil its potential in expert hands
We work with a small number of trusted mills and spinners, building long-term relationships with specialists who understand wool intimately.
These relationships give us greater visibility from raw fibre through to washing, blending, spinning and dyeing. Some of our partners have spent more than 150 years refining their craft.
Then comes the knitting: the tension, weight, construction and finish that determine how the garment will feel and wear.
Fibre, spinner and maker. Each matters.
Our wools
A considered collection of wool yarns, each chosen for its particular feel, character and purpose.
This is our signature yarn.
A soft, substantial lambswool, spun and dyed by Todd & Duncan on the banks of Loch Leven in Scotland. The mill has worked with fine yarns for more than 150 years.
The raw fibre is certified to the Responsible Wool Standard. At the mill, it is carefully checked, blended, spun and dyed, with the finished yarn traceable from fibre lot to cone.
From Loch Leven, it travels to our knitters in the British Isles, where it becomes many of our core jumpers and cardigans.
Warm, resilient and satisfyingly substantial, it is knitted with a considered tension so that it softens with wear rather than feeling overly soft from the start.
For our lighter, finer pieces, we use RWS-certified merino wool spun by specialist Italian mills, Lanecardate, Zegna Baruffa Lane Borgosesia and Tollegno.
The fineness of the fibre produces yarns that are smooth against the skin, with softness, lightness and beautiful drape.
These are refined yarns for finer-gauge knitwear: comfortable enough to wear next to the skin, substantial enough to remain unmistakably a proper knit.
The Locally Grown
Our British wool comes exclusively from sheep raised on farms within Britain.
We work with characterful fleeces including Bluefaced Leicester, Cheviot and Masham. These wools have more natural texture and resilience than our superfine yarns, with qualities shaped by their breeds and the landscapes in which they are raised.
Washed, spun and knitted within the British Isles, they form our Locally Grown collection.
This is wool with substance, provenance and a proper sense of place.
Genuine Shetland Wool
Real Shetland wool comes from Shetland.
The islands’ sheep have adapted over centuries to an exposed and demanding climate. Their wool is naturally warm, light and full of character.
We source genuine Shetland wool from Shetland and work with people who understand its history and particular qualities.
It is a distinctive fibre with an identity of its own - and one that deserves to be described accurately.
Wool is made to be worn
Wool does not need constant washing. Its natural properties mean that it can often be aired, rested and worn again.
A little thoughtful care will help a good wool garment keep its shape, feel and character for years.
Beyond wool
Linen and cotton
If wool is our first love, linen is its natural summer counterpart.
Made from flax sourced exclusively from within Europe and certified by the prestigious Masters of Linen, our linen is chosen for its coolness, breathability and strength. It feels crisp at first, then softens with washing and wear, developing more character over time.
Cool when the temperature rises. Strong enough to be worn summer after summer.
For T-shirts and jersey, we use organic cotton sourced through certified spinners.
We look for fabric with the right weight, softness and resilience: comfortable against the skin, but with enough substance to hold its shape and withstand repeated wear.
Because even the simplest T-shirt depends on the quality of its fabric.
Good materials. Excellent shapes. Clothes made to be worn.
The material is the beginning. What follows- the fit, the construction and the skill of the maker - is what turns it into a Navygrey piece.
Something that feels right when you put it on. That works in your life.
And that you want to wear again.
