Local Production- Made in Scotland
As many of you will know, I love making- I love that all our knitwear is made from start to finish here in Scotland, and knowing that each scarf, hat, or pair of mitts has come through my hands.
However, I have had to realise that there is only so much I can make in a year, and I do want the business to grow without having to work through the night knitting! So, I’m excited to say that I have just started working with a mill in Hawick (another town in the Scottish Borders and only 30mins drive away), who will start to make some of my scarves for me to start with.
Locally Produced, High Quality Knitwear
One of the benefits of living in the Scottish Borders is the rich textile heritage here- it really is the textile heartland of Scotland. Sadly Galashiels is no longer full of mills as it once was, but Hawick still has a few left, and they are still renowned for locally producing some of the best knitwear in the world. With over 60 years of experience, the mill I’m working with has established considerable expertise in creating high quality knitwear made in Scotland and I’m really excited to start working with them! It’s a steep learning curve, and in many ways it’s hard to hand over my designs for someone else to make, but I’m still going to be putting the final touches to each piece, which makes me feel better about it! I also know that you won’t be able to tell the difference in terms of quality and how soft the scarves feel.
Knitwear Made in Scotland- From Yarn to Product
Having pieces produced so locally is great, and I feel really lucky that I can just pop over when I want to chat about something in person, check on production, and see where everything is made. I’m really proud of the fact that from the yarn spinners I use to the mill is only 81 miles, with me on the way. Sometimes I think that 81 miles seems like a lot, but in an industry that’s been disappearing over the years, I think this is quite an achievement.
While I was still at university I did a short placement with my yarn spinner, so I have more of an understanding of the processes involved in making the yarn than I might otherwise and can picture where it’s all processed in my head. Working with local companies means I can have a much closer relationship with them and my products as they’re made, and I look forward to developing this over time.
Later in the year I’ll share images of the mill if I can.
Who Made Your Clothes and Where
You may have noticed the labels on our products- each one has the name of the person who knitted it on it. This is the one thing I won’t be able to continue with the pieces produced locally in the mill, but I have created labels with “Designed in Galashiels, Made in Hawick” so there is a distinction, and they’re as specific as possible!
Most pieces for now, are still made in the studio, and I’ll still make some Limited-Edition knitwear which is a perk of making pieces in the studio by hand.
Keep a look out for whose name is on the label of your knitwear!