Bill McNutt founded McNutt of Donegal as a family-run mill in Downings, in northwest Donegal, in 1953, at a time when tweed was still ordinary, everyday fabric rather than a specialty good. His handwoven tweeds and traditional Irish blankets caught the attention of designers including Sybil Connolly and Kenzo, and the mill shifted into weaving Irish linen for major fashion houses through the 1990s. A 2008 recession in the linen market pushed the company back to its original focus on wool (now spanning lamb's wool, alpaca and cashmere) under the leadership of Bill's son William McNutt.