William Lauder, 48, of Buccleuch Street, Hawick, was found guilty after trial in April of stealing jeans, jackets and other items.
He took the goods from Aero Leather Clothing Ltd in Galashiels, Hawick and elsewhere between 2004 and 2013.
Sheriff Alistair Noble jailed him at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
"You were held in high esteem and trusted completely and you betrayed that trust," he told Lauder.
Defence advocate, Victoria Dow, told Sheriff Noble that her client continued to deny the allegations against him.
He lived in Hawick with his wife and son and she said the financing of their home "could be compromised by any element of custody".
Lauder, she added, had no previous convictions and was assessed as being at low risk of re-offending, adding: "Therefore he is suitable for a community-based disposal.
"He is fit, able and capable of carrying out such a disposal."
A large amount of the materials taken had been recovered, she told the sheriff.
However, the sheriff told Lauder: "You were convicted of stealing just under £195,000 of property from a company of which you were the managing director.
"In part, this may have been you felt you were being insufficiently rewarded for the work you were doing for the company.
"You had been in substantial control of the company and it is clear you were held in high esteem and trusted completely. You betrayed that trust."
Sheriff Noble acknowledged that a substantial amount of the property had been recovered.
He said: "Despite these factors, it is clear in my view the offences can only be dealt with by a custodial sentence.
"Giving you as much credit as I can, you are sentenced to 21 months imprisonment from today."

Police found the man in Blackshots Lane, Grays, at about 00:35 BST. The 24-year-old from Stanford-Le-Hope had been stabbed in the chest.
Officers had been called to reports of men fighting, Essex Police have confirmed.
Two men, aged 22 and 21, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Police said the three injured men are being treated at Basildon Hospital with stomach and chest wounds.
It is believed the incident is related to another in nearby Chafford Hundred.
In that incident, an 18-year-old was knocked unconscious on Fleming Road at about 01:55 BST.
He was taken to hospital for treatment and later arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the killing in Grays, police said.

Paul Massey was shot five times outside his Salford home on 26 July 2015 in what police believe to be a gang feud.
No-one has been arrested over the killing of the 55-year-old security boss, who was jailed for 14 years in 1999 for stabbing a man outside a club.
A full inquest is expected after police complete their criminal investigation.
The victim's partner, eight other members of his family and detectives attended Bolton Coroner's Court for a brief pre-inquest hearing.
Jennifer Leeming, senior coroner for Manchester West, asked the senior officer in the case: "I understand these inquiries, the inquiries touching on the death of Mr Massey, are still active inquiries and I understand that there's reason to suppose that charges will result, is that right?"
Det Supt Howard Millington, of Greater Manchester Police, replied: "That's right. We are still providing evidence to the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service)."
Massey was dubbed Mr Big by the late Salford councillor Joe Burrows at a town hall meeting to discuss civil disturbances in 1992.
He was jailed in 1999 for 14 years after he stabbed a man in the groin outside a club in Manchester, severing an artery.
He was a well-known figure in his home city of Salford and had been involved with security firms operating in Manchester and beyond.
A Â£50,000 reward is still on offer for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killers.
A further pre-inquest hearing was scheduled for 17 May.
A managing director of a Borders clothing firm has been jailed for 21 months after stealing goods worth nearly £195,000 from the business.
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A man was stabbed to death and three others suffered "life-threatening injuries" during a disturbance in Essex.
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Detectives are still gathering evidence into the death of a convicted criminal once branded "Mr Big", a pre-inquest hearing has heard.