07 Jun 2024
Nestled in the quaint town of Keith, Scotland is MacNaughton – one of our Artisan mill partners. Araminta Campbell’s partnership with Macnaughton in Keith is a celebration of tradition, craftsmanship, and innovation. At Araminta Campbell, we are proud to partner with McNaughton, a company that shares our values of tradition and innovation. Together, blending time-honoured techniques with Araminta’s contemporary designs to create exquisite mill-woven textiles. Each piece is a fusion of history and modernity, weaving a story that celebrates Scotland’s rich textile heritage.
Together, we invite you to explore the story of Macnaughton and how our partnership with them goes deeper than creating beautiful textiles.
Designed with passion made with integrity
Macnaughton began over 240 years ago as a small spinning mill nestled by the banks of Loch Tay, Scotland. Macnaughton’s has woven a tale of resilience, adaptation, and triumph. Through the ebb and flow of history, this family enterprise has weathered storms, emerged stronger, and now stands tall as one of Scotland’s enduring textile treasures. In 2017, the founding family stepped back from management, and in 2022, the company was sold to new owners, signalling a fresh chapter in its legacy under the stewardship of Simon and Clare Cotton. Now with nearly 80 dedicated team members spread across three locations, Macnaughton’s isn’t just a business; it’s a living testament to the spirit of Scottish craftsmanship and innovation.
Kevin: A Testament to Tradition
Meet Kevin, the Mill Manager at Macnaughton’s in Keith, whose journey in the textile industry spans an impressive 45 years. Kevin’s passion for textiles began at a young age, influenced by his father, the former production director for the business. Growing up surrounded by the intricate workings of shuttle looms and the mechanical artistry of textile production, Kevin found his calling.
In the early days, Kevin worked with shuttle looms that wove kilt fabrics in a time-honoured process. His love for the mechanics of the looms led him to relish every moment spent with tools, cogwheels, and the essence of oil and spanners.
A Family’s Love for Textiles
For Kevin’s family, textiles were not just a profession but a way of life. His mother, too, was deeply involved in the industry, starting as a weaver and knotter before transitioning to cone winding. When Macnaughton’s relocated to Keith, a new chapter unfolded. The factory, complete with a shop selling seconds and kilt fabrics, became a familiar space for Kevin’s family.
Kevin’s Passion for Precision and Progress
When we asked Kevin, the dedicated Mill Manager at MacNaughton’s, about his favourite part of the textile process, he didn’t hesitate. For Kevin, it’s all about feeling on top of things and ensuring his team is trained to excel at every aspect within the mill. In the fast-paced world of textiles, this attention to detail is crucial for the smooth execution of client projects. Another one of Kevin’s greatest joys is fixing a machine and then witnessing it seamlessly run. He described the satisfaction akin to what his father experienced, smoking his pipe and watching a car he had worked on come back to life. As a child, Kevin didn’t quite grasp why his father stood back with such pride. Now, he understands that feeling of accomplishment when he breathes life back into a machine within the weaving workshop.
A Symphony of Colours and Craftsmanship
Kevin talked of his admiration for the colours that Araminta Campbell often works with for her custom tartan and tweed designs. He is particularly drawn to the autumnal hues—inspired by the changing leaves, the rustic countryside, and the earthy tones of the season. These colours, he believes, are perfectly suited for high-end textiles, reflecting a natural and timeless elegance. Join us in embracing tradition while pushing the boundaries of innovation. Our textiles are more than just garments—they’re expressions of heritage, creativity, and the spirit of Scotland.
The Challenge of Finding Skilled Staff in the Textile Industry
In an era where industries are evolving rapidly, finding skilled staff to work in the textile industry has presented its own set of challenges. The allure of a factory environment is not always immediate; it’s noisy, bustling, and far from what many might consider glamorous. However, for those who appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into every fabric, it’s a world of opportunity waiting to be discovered.
Supporting Mills, Sustaining Craftsmanship
At Araminta Campbell, our textiles go beyond mere beauty; they are a homage to the timeless craft of weaving and a beacon of support for rural mills like Macnaughton’s. In a world where the artistry of textile production is not always honoured as it once was, we stand as a preserver of the industry, dedicated to upholding its legacy and ensuring its flourishing future.
Together, we invite you to explore the beauty of our millwoven textiles and discover the rich story behind each piece.
Discover our Heritage Millwoven Collection.
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We are guardians of people’s stories...
We ourselves are stories that weave and take shape through the thread, thanks to the gentle hands of the weavers.
The yarn, the loom, our and your stories, are the tools we have chosen to make what cannot be seen or touched, real and wearable. We give shape to the values in which we believe, we give voice to stories to be shared with those dearest to us, forever.
Not just exquisite works of art to wear, but ambassadors, ‘talking’ objects, timeless storytellers of meanings and values that we want to preserve and pass on.
Meet Isabelle, one of our talented handweavers!
Isabelle has long had an interest in textiles, ever since her grandmother taught her to sew.
She discovered weaving when visiting universities before applying to study. Immediately captivated by the woven textile displays at Loughborough University – the home of our George Wood looms – She became fascinated by how these complex woven structures could be created from just a few cones of yarn.
Isabelle enjoys the slow, hands-on process of weaving, appreciating how it demands your full and present focus, and is always excited to share the complexities of handweaving to our visitors.
Meet Helen, one of our talented handweavers!
As an advocate for sustainability and ethical production, handweaving appealed to Helen as the embodiment of slow, responsible craft.
She fell in love with the challenging yet meditative weave process during her textile degree at the Glasgow School of Art.
Helen adores that she can name the alpacas in the pieces that she weaves, as this level of provenance imbues the pieces with deeper meaning for both weaver and future owner.
We choose 100% undyed British alpaca fiber for our designs because it embodies the values we hold dear: sustainability, durability, and unparalleled luxury. Each fleece is sourced from carefully chosen UK farms where animal welfare is a top priority.
Our close relationships with breeders enable us to trace many of our yarns back to the individual alpacas, ensuring exceptional quality and transparency. The alpaca’s fleeces are left undyed, allowing the natural richness and unique tones of their coats to shine through in every piece.
In the UK, only 5–10% of alpacas produce fleece of the exceptional quality we require. Every fiber is meticulously selected for its fineness, crimp, luster, and colour, ensuring our pieces meet the highest standards of luxury and craftsmanship.
It has taken years for our weavers to attain the skill and knowledge required to create our handwoven items.
Handweaving takes precision and patience, with each warp prepared by hand and meticulously threaded through the shafts of the loom. Once weaving is complete there is a lengthy finishing process involving darning, stitching, washing and brushing – all by hand.
It can take our handweavers anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks to complete one of our Signature pieces.
Each piece in our Heritage handwoven collection has been inspired by Araminta’s deep love for the natural beauty of the Scottish landscape.
From the golden glow of the beech woodlands surrounding her family home in the Royal Deeside Corridor during autumn, to the ethereal light of the Scottish Highlands at dawn and dusk, the landscape is a constant source of inspiration for Araminta. The shifting interplay of colours, textures, and natural rhythms informs each handwoven piece, translating fleeting moments into timeless design.
Any moment in time could become Araminta’s next creation.
Meet Lisa, one of our talented handweavers!
Lisa studied weaving at Heriot Watt University, in the borders of Scotland – an area renowned for its textile production.
She always enjoyed creating things and was recommended to study textiles by her art teacher. When first starting out in her weave degree, she found the slow process of setting up challenging, yet today it’s her favourite part.
She finds peace whilst threading the loom, enjoying and embracing the flow.
Each piece has been lovingly handwoven and finished in our Edinburgh Atelier by our team of handweavers on vintage George Wood looms.
Araminta Campbell is one of the largest employers of handweavers in Scotland, fostering employment for talented craftspeople in Scotland plays a vital role in preserving the rich legacy of Scottish textile craftsmanship. Every thread woven in the Atelier carries with it the heritage and passion of centuries-old traditions, brought vividly to life through contemporary designs, and the work of our talented weavers.
It has taken years for our weavers to attain the skill and knowledge required to create our handwoven items.
Handweaving takes precision and patience, with each warp prepared by hand and meticulously threaded through the shafts of the loom. Once weaving is complete there is a lengthy finishing process involving darning, stitching, washing and brushing – all by hand.
When you choose one of our handwoven treasures, you’re not just owning a piece of Scotland’s rich textile heritage – you’re connecting with the hands that brought it to life.
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