INDIGO + MADDER
ENGLISH CASHMERE EDITION
The Bristol Cloth: English Cashmere Edition is the latest offering from Botanical Inks natural dye house, pioneers of the UK's locally sourced and manufactured, “soil-to-soil” fabric production system: the Bristol Cloth Project, as seen on BBC News, BBC Countryfile, Sky News and several national newspapers and magazines.
Made with the only English source of Mongolian-grade Cashmere - the finest Cashmere in the World.
The genetics for which have been carefully selected, imported from Australia and bred to suit our climate by specialist breeder and fibre farmer Lesley Prior, of “Bowmont UK” in Exmoor, Devon.
Sustainably and ethically farmed within these shores, using farming techniques that prioritise high animal welfare standards and hold land stewerdship at the core.
The Goats’ fleece is hand-combed when it naturally starts to malt and fall away each year.
The Exmoor valley in which the farm is nestled is host to numerous returning rare butterflies and native wild flowers, a testiment to the health and vitality of the land and soil.
“Botanical Inks” natural dye house uses heritage British plant dyes from organic farms for natural colours which reflect the history and tradition of this land.
Indigo leaf used with a dip dye technique offers an ombre of sky to midnight blues. Hand dyed in a fructose vat made with only 3 simple natural ingredients- indigo, fructose and lime.
Madder root brings a variety of blush pink to dusty peach hues which ripple and reflect tonal variations across each uniquely woven piece.
These yarns are dyed on the hank using a pioneering approach, taking traditional natural dyes into a commercial dye house complex, with scaled up capacity machinery, whilst creating the re-emerging possibility for the use of non-toxic natural dyes within the British Textile Industry once again.
These dyed colours sit next to the natural, un-dyed ecru English Cashmere fleece colour.
Non-toxic mineral salts are used to fix the natural dyes to the fibre, to create resilient and long lasting colourfast results.
Bristol Weaving Mill are an artisan mill based in the Old Market Quarter of Bristol, run by an entirely female team of highly skilled weavers.
Bristol Weaving Mill have an experimental and innovative approach to textile design and manufacturing.
Big bolts of plant colour strike across the warp and weft, disappear and re-appear again through geometric textures, inspired by traditional weaving techniques.
The 30 scarves created in this special limited edition project are made with the highest quality natural materials and craftsmanship as heirloom pieces which will last many lifetimes, but not an eternity.
Sustainably sourced, processed and manufactured without the use of any harmful synthetic chemicals, to provide the softest and kindest relationship to your body and the environment.
Designed to be eventually given back to the earth as nutrients which build fertile soil to nourish new life cycles.
Our scarves are priced to reflect the true cost and value of the artisan work and sustainably sourced natural materials, whilst cutting out the middle man and offering high quality produce at lower prices than one might usually expect in luxury retail stores.
Making re-localised and circular fashion & textile systems more accessible and setting a new president.
A system of mutual respect and solidarity for humans, non-humans and the natural environment.
Available to buy now via our online store
