Dawson International

British textile group with headquarters in Edinburgh. It is specialized in carded yarns such as cashmere and lambswool. It also manufactures knitwear and artificial furs. It strengthened its position in the international market by reducing the price of its spun cashmere. It also produces material for furnishings. In the late 1900s it employed almost 12,000 people.
The firm launches a new brand called Dawson Cashmere Company. It is aimed at a middle section of the market and manufactured in China.
Alfredo Canessa is appointed president of Ballantyne, which is controlled by the Dawson Group, and the artistic director is Massimo Alba. The goal is to relaunch the historic brand of knitwear. An international team of young emerging designers works on the new image and the début is at Pitti Uomo in January 2003. The operating headquarters are in Milan, and production is in Scotland. Yarns are provided by another Dawson company, Todd & Duncan.