07 May 2021
Capturing centuries of heritage in a tartan, this week we are proud to announce the collaboration with British luxury great, Fortnum & Mason. Collaborating to design the iconic retailer’s first brand tartan in their 314-year history, we are thrilled to be able to showcase their beautiful design.
Home to joy-giving gifts and unforgettable experiences, Fortnum’s turned to us to perfectly capture its rich heritage. Renowned for capturing stories and turning them into timeless design, our founder and creative director was trusted to deliver an exquisite brand tartan that is the perfect marriage between Fortnum & Mason’s history and their future.
The tartan is one of many colours and they all perfectly reflect the spirit of Fortnum’s; if you have ever visited its Piccadilly store you will know that it isn’t afraid of a little colour! looking at the vibrant yarn in the tartan you can see the yellow of their glistening golden chandeliers and honey produced by their rooftop bees, the red of the Lobster admired in the food court, and the one colour that tops them all….Fortnum’s signature Eau de Nil.
Whilst the inspiration very much comes straight out of London, the Fortnum’s tartan is Scottish made. Proud of our Scottish textiles, the lambswool picnic blankets were mill woven in a family run, artisan mill, helping to sustain Scotland’s famous textile traditions.
Through this collaboration and creation of a brand tartan, Fortnum & Mason has perfectly captured its centuries of history into one exquisite design that can be treasured and enjoyed by families for centuries to come!
In a world where heritage is ever more important to consumers and brands alike, the need to tell stories never been greater, and Araminta has woven Fortnum’s illustrious history into every colour and thread.
Araminta Campbell, founder and Creative Director said “Fortnum & Mason are synonymous with British luxury, so to have the opportunity to capture their rich heritage in tartan for the first time has been an incredible privilege.”
Jo Newton, Head of Buying, Hampers, Fashion Beauty & Home at Fortnum & Mason said: ‘We are so excited to launch Fortnum’s first tartan in our 314-year history in partnership with Araminta Campbell. From our Royal service through 12 monarchs to our rooftop beehives, Araminta has brilliantly woven our unique story into all its colours and threads, and created a contemporary yet timeless tartan – and a truly distinctive picnic rug.’
If you would like to purchase a piece of Fortnum’s history, please visit the Fortnum’s site and secure your beautiful tartan piece today. Let the summer adventures begin.
If you are interested in capturing your own heritage and commissioning your own unique tweed or tartan design, please contact us at contact@aramintacampbell.co.uk today.
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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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