WONDER WOOL6/10/2015
‘The wonderful thing about Wool Week is that every year there is always something a little ‘alternative’ about it! ‘
Bridgette Kelly, Interior Textiles Director, Campaign for Wool I am more used to seeing David Gandy in Dolce & Gabbana campaigns or his range of underwear at M&S than seeing him parading along a green Savile Row with a flock of two breeds of sheep. But then again it’s UK Wool Week (5-11 October). Yesterday ‘Sheep on the Row’ marked the official launch of Wool Week and he was one of the models in a presentation to promote wool as the cloth of choice for menswear. A flock pops up again at Chelsea Harbour’s North Dome on Friday but I think these are design-led creations commissioned to show colourful wool by well-known names. London loves a pop-up and Capsu-Wool at Clifford Street, W1 is must–see and open 5-9 October from 10am – 7pm. This is a small contemporary space made cosy and colourful with wool products selected by stylist Arabella McNee. She has chosen some beautiful designs for interiors including Ben Pentreath for Alternative Flooring carpets and Margo Selby’s woven artworks.
Wool Week is full of great events. I think the sun will be shining on Friday - just when it’s Woolly Hat Day…
Bridgette Kelly has written a brilliant guest blog for Alternative Flooring and tells us that; ‘Wool was perhaps not seen as an exciting fibre when HRH The Prince of Wales launched this Campaign in 2010 but quietly it has always been the natural, sustainable superstar of the textile world. It has amazing performance capability - and will last longer and look better than any other fibre. This Wool Week - I hope you decide to choose wool!’ Read the full version: http://www.alternativeflooring.com/blog/ For more information on the Campaign for Wool and all the events during Wool Week: www.campaignforwool.org AWESOME AUTUMN1/10/2015
Running on Hampstead Heath clears my head and keeps me sane. It’s always a rush to swap heels (low) for my Nike (zooms) and get the kids sorted. Yes we all run. As the nights begin to draw in, the park keeper begins to lock the gates to the inner circle route past Kenwood House. I suppose it makes me go faster but not so speedy as to miss the new signs declaring #awesomeautumn. I love this time of year when leaves are turning and you feel a touch of cold. I also love autumn as you can wrap yourself up in soft shawls and beautiful blankets.
I have an exquisite de Le Cuona paisley cashmere shawl which I treasure and I also like the chic cosy blankets that The French House are now making. Many of their suppliers are artisans or small family-run firms and are producing exclusive ranges especially for them. One of these ranges is a small new collection of beautiful blankets inspired by vintage French designs from archives collected over the years. The latest blanket design, Deauville is drawn from 1913 design created on Italian machines from 1950 that are still weaving their magic. This wool stripe blankets are coloured in a rich cobalt blue offset with bold red, or misty grey offset with pastel pink.
‘All our blankets are made for us by a small family-run company high in the Serra de Estrela in Portugal, using machines that would also easily qualify as vintage. The skilled weavers expertly work Italian machines that have been in use since the 1950s, and which need constant maintenance, as there are hardly any spare parts available. In conjunction with modern programming it is possible to make any design. The raw materials are mostly on the doorstep as the Serra is sheep country and that’s where some of the wool is sourced.’
Susanna Housden, owner of The French House It’s #awesomeautumn and tis the season to wrap up warm. thefrenchhouse.net Categories
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