25 Jan 2022
On the date that can affectionately be described as Scotland’s “other national holiday”, we reflect on our great nation, its heritage, and some of the things that make us proud to be Scottish.
From the highlands – arguably one of the most remarkable places in the country – to some of the 30,000 serenely stunning lochs; our castles that range from well preserved fortresses to understated ruins, to the sound of Scotland and our bagpipes rooted in military history; to the “the water of life” that keeps our hearts and souls warm, to our tweeds, tartans and textiles that are synonymous with Scotland; Scotland has a rich history that we cherish and keep alive.
As a brand, we are proud to join a rich lineage of textile craftsmen and women, keeping the ancient skills alive, and we aren’t alone in our quest to preserve centuries old textile skills. Celebrating the breadth and depth of skills that Scotland has to offer, we took a moment to speak to Kitty Bruce-Gardyne from the fabulous Scottish Textiles Showcase in Edinburgh to shine the light on some of the brands they represent showing why we are so proud of our Scottish textile heritage.
BAKKA Fair Isle
The remote costal croft of Bakka is located in a sensational location on Shetland in the far north of Scotland. Having discovered the old Shetland Fair Isle patterns were in danger of dying out through extensive research in the archives of the National Museum of Scotland and the Shetland Textile Museum, Mary Macgregor, the designer behind the BAKKA brand, keeps the traditional Fair Isle designs alive, using them as the source and inspiration for her work.
Her sumptuously soft BAKKA Fair Isle scarves, stoles and cowls are beautifully designed and knitted with the finest merino wool using traditional Shetland designs and working with just five traditional colours.
MYB Lace
Nestled in an Ayrshire valley, you will find Scotland’s one and only lace mill manufacturing with original Nottingham lace looms. With a history dating back to 1900 this important mill is home to the widest Nottingham Lace loom in the world.
Weaving exquisite pieces from baby blankets to exceptional Chinese madras lace window panels, MYB produce world renowned Madras and Nottingham lace.
MYB was founded as an exclusive manufacturer of Scottish Leno Gauze weave, later known as Scottish Madras.
In 1913 the company invested in Nottingham Lace looms, enabling them to present a larger variety of products to their clients. The Irvine Valley in the South West of Scotland offered the perfect damp climate for the Nottingham Lace machinery and its product.
MYB Textiles is now the only producer in the world manufacturing patterned lace with original Nottingham Lace looms, some of which are over 90 years old and run at a very slow, controlled pace so as to give a high level of quality control: this attention to detail gives the product its niche.
Araminta Campbell
Every Araminta Campbell piece is an ode to Scotland. All of their textiles are made right here in the country that inspired their design, using local materials, traditional skills and expert craftsmanship.
With four collections, including SIGNATURE, their collection of luxury handwoven British alpaca accessories crafted in their Scottish studio and their custom tweed and tartan design service, they are proud to join a rich lineage of makers and artisans creating exceptional Scottish textiles. Drawing on this vibrant heritage, they continue to preserve skills and expertise that have been handed down the generations.
Rosie Sugden
Synonymous with luxury and quality cashmere wear, the designs seen in Rosie Sugden’s collections are hugely influenced by her surroundings, such as the rolling hills of Scotland she calls home.
With all her cashmere accessories being designed in her Scottish studio, Rosie’s pieces are knitted in a family-run mill in the heart of the Scottish Borders, keeping valuable rural skills alive.
Visit Scottish Textile Showcase to learn more about the Scottish artisans and wool mills they champion and why it is right to celebrate and cherish our rich textile heritage.
“Sláinte Mhath!”
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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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