My brother James Sugden, who has died aged 71, was a champion of maintaining traditional skills in the textile industry. After gaining a degree from Cambridge University he decided to devote his life to the same work as his father. He learned every process in the industry and was committed to training young people in textile skills.

James was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, the son of John Sugden, a lifelong textiles man, and his wife, Helen (nee Raffan). His early years were spent at Berry Brow and later Netherton and he was educated at St David’s preparatory school, Huddersfield, and Sedbergh school, Cumbria. He took a degree in economics at Downing College, Cambridge, in 1968, then joined R Beanland & Co in Scissett, West Yorkshire, as a trainee worsted spinner while taking an evening textile course at Huddersfield College of Technology.

In 1973 James married Linda Stonehouse and, after a spell at W & J Whitehead wool-combing company in Laisterdyke, Bradford, in 1980 he moved to his father-in-law’s business, MP Stonehouse Ltd in Wakefield. When this was taken over by Readicut, James accepted an offer in 1987 to move north to join Johnstons of Elgin as sales director, quickly becoming managing director in 1988.

In the next 25 years, he developed Johnstons into becoming the leading UK manufacturer of cashmere products, renowned for its fabric and accessories, and more recently knitwear.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest James Sugden helped to set up a school for sewing at Dumfries House, Ayrshire. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

In 2005 James moved to Hawick in the Borders to develop the knitwear business there. Once again he painstakingly transformed it, overseeing new products, suppliers and customers to the great benefit of the town, and enhanced the reputation of the company significantly.

He awarded grants to students from the Weavers’ Company and helped to set up a school for sewing at Dumfries House in conjunction with Glasgow Clyde College and Ayrshire College. He was a founder member of the Manchester-based Alliance Project, which aims to bring back textile manufacturing to the UK.

In Hawick James personally supervised the creation of the Hawick Cashmere Visitor Centre, which opened in 2011. In the same year he was appointed OBE for his services to the textile industry. He was also chairman of the Scottish Textiles Manufacturing Association (now Textiles Scotland). By the time he retired in 2013 his knowledge of the industry was unsurpassable.

James is survived by Linda and their three children, Emily, John and Rosie, and four grandchildren, and by his two brothers, Andrew and me.