Meadham Kirchoff Autumn Winter 2011
The St Martins graduates and design duo are Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff. The Meadham Kirchhoff brand was launched in 2006 as part of Fashion East, and is now as part of the Topshop-sponsored NewGen program. The boys employed a team of knitters from Moray, as well as Scots knitwear expert Di Gilpin, to create the centre-piece of their new collection – Gansey Knitwear.
For weeks a team of about 35 knitters, under the guidance of Ms Gilpin, created more than 40 intricate pieces, including socks, skirts and sweaters, incorporating the complex designs that in the past helped to identify the bodies of drowned sailors as belonging to a particular village. In the 18th and 19th century it was common for wives to knit the initials of their husbands into an overall design which differed slightly from village to village along the shores of the east coast of Scotland.
Information on the Moray Firth Gansey Project can be found here, but in brief:
The aims of the Moray Firth Gansey Project are to:
– Locate, record and conserve examples of traditional Moray Firth ganseys, patterns and traditions
– Pass on the skills to a new generation
– Involve communities and individuals, schools and colleges
– Challenge young designers to use the skills and techniques to create contemporary garments
– Promote local economic development opportunities
I think we can safely say – job done!
The Moray Firth is north of Inverness and has loads of wee fishing villages dotted along the coast:
Crovie, Moray Firth
Credits and awareness to Stephen McGinty at The Scotsman