A PIONEERING new sustainable luxury fashion range, created in this region, is garnering national attention.
Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear, which was developed by the team from the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, is also featuring in a global tourism drive to bring visitors to Scotland.
It is believed to be the first fashion brand to use Scottish Blackface wool for high-end clothing, and the only luxury knitwear company run as a social enterprise, directing all profits into grassroots climate and sustainable development initiatives within the Galloway biosphere.
The brand launched its first ever high-end, entirely British-made, sustainable outerwear knitwear range late last year, as featured in this paper at the time.
Since then, wool produced by Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear was used by knitters at the A’ The Airts, in Sanquhar, to fashion a unique “coo-ture” woollen knitwear garment for the Highland cow fronting VisitScotland’s global winter drive to boost sustainable tourism.
Gordon Smith, from VisitScotland, said they were pleased to be able to use wool sourced from Galloway, adding: “Not only did it give another link to the region, with A’ The Airts designing and creating the garments, but their commitment to the local environment, community, and preserving local heritage, aligns with our own sustainable tourism ambitions.
“We’re excited to see the attention that Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear and the Biosphere are receiving which will help shine a spotlight on the region.”
Designer Jo Storie, who has worked in knitwear for 30 years, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to see that the world is beginning to take notice of how significant Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear is. It a great privilege to have been involved in the realisation of such a groundbreaking project, which highlights how fashion can become a force for good – supporting the growth of the circular economy and helping to address the global climate crisis.
“We are proud to have a collection able to compete with the best known luxury knitwear brands.”
The Biosphere team have ensured all elements of each product are designed and produced in the UK, with all wool sourced from local farmers.
Director Ed Forrest described the journey from concept to garment, saying: “Merrick knitwear originated as a conversation between biosphere officers, trustees, and the farmers we support through our programme of land use and biodiversity initiatives. We are delighted that, in a relatively short time, a project exploring new approaches to sustainability in traditional industries has grown into a social enterprise that is attracting interest across the UK and overseas.
“Innovation like this is needed now more than ever; the fashion industry releases around 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon emissions every year, with textile production contributing more to climate change than international aviation and shipping combined.
“As well as selling beautiful clothes that last a lifetime, our vision is to increase the profitability of Blackface wool, so that local producers see better returns and ultimately inspire wider engagement with farming and fashion as part of southern Scotland’s sustainable economy. We look forward to continuing this important work and evolving the brand through 2025 and beyond.”
Extolling the benefits further, Thornhill farmer Richard Colley added: “Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear, which is producing high end garments entirely and exclusively from the very best of locally sourced Blackface wool, offers a fantastic opportunity for eco-conscious and stylish consumers.
“Scottish Blackface wool is an extremely sustainable, natural and biodegradable product with outstanding environmental credentials, produced in the most natural environment in the world.”
- Merrick garments all hold British Wool’s prestigious traceability mark and are now on sale via MerrickScotland.com.
