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Made in Grey Britain : Collaborative Label - Printed cashmere collection of garments for A/W 2012

Made in Grey Britain is a collaborative printed cashmere garment collection with world-renowned cashmere producers Johnstons of Elgin. The collection consists of six hand screen printed cashmere jumper designs inspired by Britain today; industries in decline, industrial manufacture, the generation spanning productivity of the Johnstons of Elgin mill in Hawick and its commitment to create beautiful things at all points throughout its history, utilitarian objects that have died, been dismantled and resurrected on the garments they were once used to create. The Made in Grey Britain tag is a more thought provoking idiom and the collection questions how existing textile craftsmanship can be applied in novel ways. There is an edge within the delicate soft folds of the cashmere, a tension that derives from the juxtaposition of broken machine parts, scissors and the various tools of the trade that once helped form the canvas it now adorns. The abstract qualities of the prints deliver on two fronts; they carry a story, a lineage as well as working as distinctive pieces. The fragile and textural quality inherent in nature brings a sensory mood to the collection that strikes a discord against the stark, industrial lines. The print processes used were extensively developed to be indiscernible in handle, further refining and building on existing research towards screen printing a cashmere garment in the round. The process is rigorously tested for evaluation of colour, handle, quality, finish and shrinkage and then accurately documented to ensure quality control in production. The collection was exhibited at Premium, Berlin in Hall 7 (Stylish Innovation Meets Fragile Strength) and featured in International press including WWD Japan and Italian Vogue. In excess of 300 units were sold globally to buyers across Europe, Japan and the USA. International press coverage is cited in design publications (see full press list).