Operating the country’s largest digital print facility, RA Smart is best known for pioneering the digital print revolution through the mid-late nineties, to present day. However the company has also been actively involved in keeping the ancient art of Jacquard Weave alive and well, a method that is now proving a major export success for British manufacturing.

Buying raw silk, which is then de-gummed and dyed in Macclesfield, RA Smart use 100% Pure Silk Warps and weave with both 4 and 8 ply Pure Silk Weft. It has 4 high speed looms, capable of producing the most intricate of designs.

Managing director, Ron Smart says: “Weave is a wonderful method of production, offering short runs and requiring no screens. Growth through Weave in our men’s tie business has been exponential over the last couple of years, with 80% of what we now produce being exported to markets such as the US and Japan. Such countries see great kudos in silk produced in Macclesfield, a town with a rich silk history dating back to 1261 AD when King Edward granted the borough a Royal Charter. Here at RA Smart we are proud to be keeping Macclesfield’s worldwide reputation for quality silk production alive through this wonderful ancient art.

”RA smart’s weave business is not reserved purely for men’s ties, the company is also weaving silk for men’s scarves and currently working on the creation of several silk soft furnishing ranges with leading interior designers.