11 Feb 2021
Six months ago we began our journey alongside Araminta the alpaca, showcasing the journey of our textiles from their first step as a cria (a baby alpaca), through to shearing and on to the use of their fleece. By following Araminta, we hope not only to provide transparency but to also share some alpaca knowledge along the way.
At six months old, Araminta and her friends have just started the weaning process. A vital part of development, Araminta’s dam has moved into a new paddock on the farm with the other dam’s with cria of weaning age. The cria have stayed in a familiar pasture with the dams and cria that are too young to wean. To make the weaning process easier, whilst Araminta is separated from Perdy (her mother), she is in full sight of her, so that both know one another is safe. Araminta is an incredibly independent cria and is rarely seen looking for Perdy – she is very happy grazing and playing with her friends!
During the weaning process special care and attention is taken with Araminta’s weight, with regular weigh-ins to ensure that she is receiving the correct nutrition. She mainly eats grass and hay, but also has free access to a ‘creep feeder’ (an area where the adult alpacas can’t enter) this allows the cria to have extra feed, where the adults can’t steal it! This is an important time for Aramita and she is maintaining a steady weight gain which is ideal and testament to Kate’s care and knowledge. This is also important for Araminta’s fibre. If the weaning process caused excessive stress or a sudden loss of weight, then she could have a tender (weak) point in her fleece, making it snap easily at that point. This might make her fibre too weak to use once shorn next May.
As Araminta and other weaning cria are in a paddock together, her breeder Kate, at Mullacott alpacas is taking this time to progress their training.
Since birth Kate has built up the confidence within her herd, with human interaction and touch. However, at six months Araminta has moved to the next stage of her training and is learning to wear a head collar and walk on a leadrein. This is a significant point in Araminta’s training, as to have her confident and comfortable with humans will ensure vet appointments, shearing and human care throughout her life are easier and not cause for too much stress.
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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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