Responsible for the generic term ‘mac’, Mackintosh has recently undergone a revitalisation. Riddle explores the hand-made factory in Cumbernauld to find out more.
Article and photography by Andy Barnham
Stepping in from the crisp, Scottish air into the factory at Cumbernauld, there is an unmistakable, and unsurprising, smell of glue. The visual response is equally impactful; material bursts from colour pockets around the factory. Retail sales have climbed from £5.4 million in 1999 to £29.9 milion this year, with staff figures rising from 65 to 102 (at time of visit) and set to reach 134 by the end of this year at the sister factory in Lancashire following a £1m redevelopment.
In Cumbernauld, the sense of tradition in the brand is also apparent on the factory floor, with many father- son employees who help maintain the order books, which are full up to five months in advance. The seams in the vulcanised cotton coats are glued, rather than sewn, to ensure complete water resistance. The intricate process of glue application takes three years to master making Mackintosh a truly crafted product. 
Enquiries: mackintosh-uk.tumblr.com/