Magee 1866

Magee 1866 – a fifth-generation Irish family business with over 150 years’ experience in designing, weaving and tailoring luxurious fabrics and clothing in Donegal.

Magee was founded on handwoven tweed over 150 years ago when John Magee first established a small drapers shop in Donegal, Ireland. This hardwearing, coarse fabric was handwoven across Donegal by part-time fishermen and farmers as the perfect fabric for dissipating the damp and cold weather, so often found in North-west Ireland, a far cry from the luxurious cloths being produced today. In 1900, Robert Temple – John Magee’s cousin and apprentice – bought the business and today the third and fourth generations of the Temple family are still at the helm – Lynn, Charlotte, Paddy and Rosy.

Our weaving mill in Donegal Town, on the banks of the River Eske, is still the beating heart of everything we do at Magee. We are proud to support a tradition of weaving and manufacturing textiles in the northwest of Ireland, bringing a contemporary edge to an age-old craft.

Natural fibres like wool, cashmere, flax and alpaca are central to our collections. These natural fibres are renewable and biodegradable, coming from all-natural sources for a rich, soft feeling that can’t be imitated. Our design philosophy has always promoted the concept of ‘slow fashion’ through timeless collections, where pieces are designed to be worn time and time again. Sustainable fabric and high quality, long lasting products define our DNA.

Magee are unique in the fact that we incorporate many of these fabrics into seasonal men and women’s lifestyle collections. We have been specialising in tailored garments for over 100 years and in latter years we have developed a more casual offering. These collections are available online www.magee1866.com and in our stores Magee of Donegal, Magee of South Anne Street and Magee at Arnotts, also from selected stockists in the UK, Ireland.