The Southern Uplands of Scotland have for centuries been associated with the production
of the finest-quality wool. The sheep native to the area have adapted to the cool climate to produce fleece of exceptional warmth and resilience, which is fashioned into fabric using skills handed down through generations of spinners, dyers and weavers.
It is from here, at a specialist weaving mill near the market town of Biggar, that Glen Wools, a new collection from Colefax and Fowler, originates. The fabrics, for curtains, cushions and upholstery, are made from wool selected for its softness, and are designed to celebrate not only the beauty of the natural material but the skill, patience and time required to perfect it.
‘We were initially drawn to develop a wool collection because it belongs so naturally to British decorating tradition,’ says Sarah MacGregor, Colefax and Fowler’s design director, of the rationale behind the new fabrics. ‘Plaids and checks are true classics, and we have worked with this same mill for 25 years, which gives us a real depth of knowledge in the cloth.’
While the collection is rooted in traditional craftsmanship and cultural heritage, the checked and striped designs have been conceived with a modern aesthetic in mind, achieved largely through its palette: a muted mix of soft creams, peaty browns, lichen greens and sky blues inspired by the Scottish landscape.
‘What excites me most about this collection are the colours,’ says Sarah. ‘The wool fibre is dyed before it is spun, so each thread carries its own variation of colour, and once the yarn is woven, the fabric takes on a heathered, dimensional quality that feels alive rather than flat. Wool drapes beautifully and wears well – it’s a natural choice for upholstery.’ From £112 a metre.
