The Design Story
Step aboard the Royal Scotsman’s newly refurbished Heron Carriage, where every detail invites you to look closer. Home to exclusive Grand Suites, this second collaboration between Araminta Campbell and Belmond draws inspiration from the elemental beauty of the Scottish wilderness. The Heron Carriage encapsulates the untamed spirit and layered richness of Scotland, brought to life through thoughtful design and quiet craftsmanship.
Photographer: Ludovic Balay
Photographer: Ludovic Balay
Photographer: Ludovic Balay
Photographer: Ludovic Balay
Photographer: Ludovic Balay
Photographer: Ludovic Balay
This bespoke jacquard textile marks a continuation of the deeply considered partnership between Belmond and Araminta Campbell; a creative collaboration rooted in a shared desire to showcase the true depth and diversity of Scotland’s textile heritage. Designed exclusively for the Royal Scotsman, a Belmond Train’s newest Grand Suites; this textile embodies Belmond and Araminta Campbell’s joint ambition to go beyond the expected narrative of tartan and tweed. Instead, they chose to celebrate the richness of design, craftsmanship, and innovation that Scottish weaving is capable of.
The design draws inspiration from the time-honoured artistry of Fair Isle knitting. Known for its intricate, multicolour patterns, Fair Isle carries a legacy of warmth and identity. In this bespoke textile, Araminta has translated the spirit of those knitted motifs into a complex double weave, enabling tonal variation through a sophisticated play of structure. This layered approach honours the repetition and rhythm of traditional Fair Isle while transforming it into something contemporary and tactile.
This is not just a beautiful design – it is a feat of technical precision. Achieving such detail in weave requires more than creative vision; it demands a deep understanding of loom capabilities, yarn behaviour, and textile structure. Thanks to Araminta’s expertise and close partnership with our trusted artisan mill in Scotland, the design not only captures the rhythmic beauty of Fair Isle, but does so with clarity, balance, and exceptional woven integrity.
Working closely with MacNaughtons, one of Scotland’s revered weaving mills, Araminta Campbell developed the cloth using 100% wool. The mill’s technical expertise and willingness to explore complex weave structures allowed Araminta to bring her vision to life with precision and beauty. Every thread speaks of local expertise, hands-on craftsmanship, and a collective investment in the future of Scottish textiles. This partnership not only supports the skilled artisans keeping these time-honoured techniques alive but also showcases Scotland’s capability for high-end, design-led innovation beyond tartan and tweed.
The colour palette is equally rooted in place. Araminta worked in harmony with Belmond’s vision, drawing from the landscape that guests journey through while aboard The Royal Scotsman. Woven in just two carefully chosen shades, a sumptuous moss green and a soft, grounding beige, the design achieves remarkable depth and tonal richness, made possible by the intricacies of a complex double weave. This intricate technique allows Araminta to work between the layers of cloth, subtly shifting the emphasis from one colour to the other to create a sense of light, shadow, and movement within the textile. The result is a palette that feels nuanced and immersive, evoking the landscapes seen from the train: the soft sweep of valleys, the painted highlands, and the golden lichen clinging to ancient stone.
This wonderful bespoke design can be found throughout the new Grand Suites, where it seamlessly weaves its way into the rich surroundings. From the upholstered sofas to the plush carpets, the textile enriches every element of the space, enhancing the journey with its tactile beauty and elegant presence. Designed in Scotland, inspired by the country’s breathtaking landscapes, and meticulously made by skilled artisans in Scottish mills, this textile is a heartfelt tribute to Scotland’s creative heritage.
This marks the second creative collaboration between Belmond and Araminta Campbell. The partnership began with the design of a bespoke tartan and tweed for the original Grand Suites aboard The Royal Scotsman – a celebration of Scottish heritage brought to life through Araminta’s signature storytelling and craftsmanship. Rooted in landscape and meaning, the tartan and tweed reflect the journey of the train through the Highlands, woven with detail and symbolism. You can discover the full story of this first collaboration here and watch Araminta speak about the design process in the video below.
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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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