Ryder & Amies, Cambridge

Ryder & Amies is a distinguished retailer located in the historic heart of Cambridge, established by the Amies family over a century ago. Renowned as the principal outfitter for the University of Cambridge, the shop offers a wide range of academic and collegiate apparel, including traditional academic gowns, university hoodies, bespoke scarves, and various other university-themed merchandise.

Historically, the shop has a rich legacy of crafting academic robes and scarves right above its retail space on King’s Parade. In the 1980s, to accommodate growth, manufacturing was moved to a larger facility in Fenland, Cambridgeshire. Here, a dedicated team of eight continues to produce high-quality academic garments, maintaining the traditional craftsmanship that the store is known for.

Ryder & Amies is particularly famous for its college scarves, which feature distinctive vertical stripes, a style that dates back to the 1940s. Originally made by tearing woven saxony wool into strips and sewing them together, these scarves were known for their simplicity and lack of embellishment, identified only by their college or university colors. In the 1980s, as the popularity of these scarves waned, the shop introduced an embroidered badge to the design, which has since become a sought-after feature, although the original unadorned version is still available.

Today, Ryder & Amies stands as a symbol of British manufacturing excellence, evident from their iconic label introduced in 2017, marking their commitment to British-made products. Whether in-store or online, customers are invited to explore the rich heritage and exceptional products offered by Ryder & Amies.