THE WALKER SLATER STORY

Walker Slater was founded in 1989 in the Scottish Highlands before later settling Edinburgh’s Old Town, which is where its headquarters are today. Despite now being over 30 years old, the company has not deviated from its mission, which is to champion the heritage and sustainability of tweed and woollen fabrics through contemporary and elegant clothing.

Established by Frances Slater and Paul Walker, who helms the brand as creative director, the company started out with humble beginnings of supplying remote communities with hard-wearing classic clothing to combat the harsh elements. It quickly transcended its roots in the Highlands by moving south and opening outposts in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. Within each store, quaint and charming interiors and passionate staff harmoniously cultivate Walker Slater’s own, unique world and provide customers with an authentic taste of Scotland.

Ready-to-wear tailoring is the central part of the offering (made-to-measure is offered, also), with a range of flattering suit styles that appeal to a wide demographic and range of social settings, such as for weddings and business. To sit alongside it, there’s a comprehensive offering of lifestyle garments – from outerwear, shirts, knitwear, denim and silk accessories – for both men and women. Overall, quality reigns supreme, and with Walker’s timeless approach to understated design and deeply-rooted appreciation for fabrics that are sustainably made, its creations are crafted to last.

As a result of the fortune of being from Scotland, the palettes of Walker Slater’s collections are inspired by its natural beauty. From the age-old towns and cities with their rustic charm, to the most remote moors and lochs that make even the most intrepid traveller lost for words, the earthy landscapes that reflect off still waters, warm cityscapes, and infinite nuances between them can be seen each season.

A fundamental area of the business is working in close proximity with its range suppliers and mills, most notably the world-renowned Harris Tweed Hebrides. Over the last three decades, Walker Slater has worked season on season with Harris Tweed to create a myriad exclusive fabrics. In addition to that, it also supports and promotes the lesser-known mills in The Borders, as well as specialist mills in Italy and beyond.

In 2017, Walker Slater launched a new line called Messrs, which aimed to appeal to a younger, more dynamic audience and it has been a roaring success. It does this through slimmer cuts and eclectic fabrics that are a refreshing and more youthful alternative to the traditional garments the mainline Walker Slater brand produces.

Over the years, Walker Slater has had the privilege of collaborating with, and creating garments for, a range of major sporting teams and organisations. Naturally, none fill the company with more pride than Scotland’s national football and rugby teams. In 2014, it worked directly with the Ryder Cup, which was hosted at the exceptional Gleneagles Hotel, and designed a dedicated collection with an exclusive Harris Tweed cloth. In addition, Walker Slater has also designed uniforms for a host of esteemed hotels across the United Kingdom and European Union.

With plans for expansion overseas in the next few years, most notably in Japan where there’s immense appreciation for traditional craft and textiles, Walker Slater will continue to do what it’s always done: create exceptional value for money items that are authentic and pure, and above all, represent Scotland on a global scale.

Our Values

Since 1989, Walker Slater’s vision has been steadfast in championing the sustainable merits of tweed and supporting the surrounding communities. In doing so, it aims to make tweed appeal to independently-minded customers and cement its relevance in this modern world.

Sustainability

There’s no denying that wool has always been the most sustainable material in fashion today. Due to its cyclical nature, wear-once culture and predilection for toxic synthetic materials, which are the key reasons as to why it’s the second biggest polluter after the motoring and oil industries, choosing wool is the way forward.

As a result, Walker Slater is a proud partner of HRH Prince of Wales’ Campaign for Wool, which is a multi-national, cross-industry coalition that launched in 2010 to promote wool from ecological and socio-cultural standpoints. Wool has always been the backbone of the Walker Slater brand, favoured fondly due to the myriad of ways it can be designed and its miraculous ability to absorb moisture, regulate temperature and resist bacteria. It’s also breathable, resilient to wear and tear and, most of all, biodegradable. Walker Slater’s vision is to promote and spread the gospel of wool and engage with independently-minded customers across the globe who wish to contribute towards creating a greater world.

Living Wage

A fair and liveable wage gives employees a chance to lead a dignified life, with access to the opportunities and choices needed to fully participate in society. At Walker Slater we pay a fair and liveable wage, so our workforce meet a decent standard of living and fair pay brings benefits for families, communities and our business. We want to raise living standards by ensuring everyone who works for Walker Slater earns a living wage or income.

Transparency

Due to Walker Slater’s intimate relationships with its suppliers – whether fabric mills or small and independent manufacturers in Europe – it knows first-hand about the traceability of its product range.

From working with Harris Tweed, who are bound by an act of law to provide full transparency on who wove each bolt of cloth, or with manufacturers in Portugal who’ve been ahead of the curve on sustainable and ethical practices, Walker Slater is a standout in the lifestyle sector for knowing the intricate but important details about the production journey of each product.

Community

Over the last 30 years, Walker Slater has fostered a community of like-minded thinkers through its stores in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. Within those stores, customers are welcomed into Walker Slater’s world and leave feeling enriched, educated and enlightened thanks to friendly and well-informed customer service. The community has spread overseas, too, reaching as far as the US and Japan largely thanks to the bi-annual fashion trade show Pitti Uomo which takes place in Florence, Italy. Walker Slater hopes that in the years to come this community will flourish as more are drawn to its timeless, sustainable and understated creations.

Scotland

Last but by no means least, as one of Scotland’s foremost menswear and womenswear clothing brands, Walker Slater’s vision is to elevate the perception of Scottish fashion on the world stage through honourable ethics, sustainable practices, natural materials and timeless design. In doing so, it aims to cement itself as the country’s prevailing ambassador.