Tartan and Tweed for ‘Scotland’s Hottest Hotel’
The restoration of the Fife Arms Hotel transformed it into a luxurious celebration of Scottish culture. We created a tweed and tartan that would carry its history forward and immerse guests in a unique aesthetic experience.
The Fife Arms Drawing Room with Araminta Campbell's bespoke tartan covering the walls. Photo by Sim Canetty-Clarke
The Fife Arms Tweed by Araminta Campbell
The Snug of The Flying Stag with Araminta Campbell's bespoke tweed covering the walls. Photo by Sim Canetty Clarke
Described by The Financial Times as ‘Scotland’s Hottest Hotel’, The Fife Arms is a 19th Century hotel located in Braemar, in the heart of the Cairngorms National park. Owned by Iwan and Manuela Wirth, co-founders of Hauser & Wirth, the 46 bedroom hotel was transformed through an extensive refurbishment before being officially opened by TRH the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in January 2019. Araminta Campbell designed and produced the custom tartan and tweed for the hotel, which has been used across the interiors, uniforms and retail products.
The Zoology room in the Fife Arms Hotel, with bespoke tweed by Araminta Campbell and Interiors by Russell Sage. Photo by Sim Canetty-Clarke
Interiors uniting Scottish craftsmanship
We worked alongside interior designer Russell Sage Studio and Iwan and Manuela Wirth, creating a bespoke Fife Arms tweed and tartan that would serve as a unifying theme throughout the hotel and highlight its’ Scottish heritage. The hotel is home to thousands of stunning works of art and antiques, and every room was designed to be an immersive experience. Accordingly, the Fife Arms tweed and tartan designs needed to be able to work well in a variety of different settings whilst adding to the many layered visual feast awaiting guests. Russell Sage expertly curated these interior spaces, winning House and Garden’s 2019 Pineapple Award for hotel design.
Staff at the Fife Arms hotel, with custom tartan and tweed by Araminta Campbell, uniforms by Studio 104. Photo by Sim Canetty-Clarke
Bespoke designs and custom cloth
The tartan and tweed designs include details from the hotel’s history and iconic façade as well drawing on the colours and textures of the surrounding landscape. Working with carefully selected Scottish suppliers, we provided the tweed and tartan in a variety of different scales, weights and qualities. From FR treated cloth for fabric walling and lightweight cloth for uniforms, to tweed carpets, cashmere tartan blankets and even silk tartan scarves for the hotel boutique.
Silk and cashmere tartan scarves for the Fife Arms by Araminta Campbell.
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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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