25 Jun 2019
Nestled at the foot of the Pentland hills just outside of Edinburgh, Bobcat Alpacas is home to a growing herd of Scottish alpacas! We had the pleasure of visiting Bob and Cath to see the alpaca shearing process that happens across Britain during the summer.
It was fascinating to see the shearing process up close, and learn more about the different stages of sorting the alpaca fleeces first hand. Every year we work with British alpaca breeders and farms to source the undyed fleeces we use in our Signature Handwoven Collection and Minta interiors line – but have never been there for the actual shearing.
Specialist alpaca shearers tour Britain during the summer and are well practised at working with these leggy creatures. Shearing is vital to stop the alpacas overheating in the warm weather, and also has the benefit of giving us humans something beautiful to keep us warm in the winter!
The alpacas are restrained and the shearing is completed quickly to cause as little discomfort as possible.
First the alpacas are restrained so they don’t hurt themselves, and this also provides the opportunity to give them a comprehensive health check as well as a tooth and nail trim which is difficult to do when they are out frisking in the field.
The blanket section of the fleece being shorn, which contains the highest quality fibre.
The back section of the fleece is removed first – known as the ‘blanket’. This usually contains the finest and best quality fibre, and is what we have spun to weave into our products. The blanket is laid out flat and sorted through by hand to remove the tougher guard hairs and bits of dirt in a process called ‘skirting’. The leg and belly fleece is removed next, followed by the neck. No part of the fleece is wasted, as all the seconds can still be used for natural stuffing and insulation.
Raw alpaca fleece is beautifully soft to touch, and is hypoallergenic as it doesn’t contain lanolin.
It was amazing to touch the raw fibre straight off the animal, it was even still warm to the touch! Raw Alpaca fibre also doesn’t contain lanolin – unlike sheep wool – so it didn’t have that greasy texture.
Bob and Cath were so knowledgeable about each of the animals in their herd, and we discovered that every one has a very distinctive personality. This culminated in them demonstrating the exact place an alpaca liked to be stroked – some liked a tickle under the neck, and other a pat on the back, every alpaca is different!
It was wonderful meeting this fluffy bunch, and we even got to take the alpacas on a walk!
It was a privilege to meet them and their gorgeous herd, as well as learning about a process that is so vital to weaving our products. Bobcat alpacas are right on our doorstep here in Edinburgh, and it was wonderful to find fellow alpaca lovers so nearby. They are spreading this passion with their ‘alpaca experiences’ where groups learn about handling and taking care of them and then go an alpaca walk in the Pentland hills. Needless to say we hope to have another team day out there soon!
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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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