A few weeks ago I collaborated with Caroline Finlay and Elizabeth Martin Tweed on a photoshoot. Our designs work really well together- we’re all inspired by Scotland, and we think that’s a big part of it!

These are two designers I have a huge amount of respect for, and whose work I really love. They create pieces made in Scotland to be loved and worn over many years, as I do- another great fit.

We spent a day in South Queensferry, a beautifully little town on the Firth of Forth, beside the iconic Forth Rail Bridge, with our beautiful model Isobel, and photographer Julien.

I always enjoy finding out more about the people behind the design- it makes buying from small businesses more special, and it always makes me enjoy wearing their work more too. As part of this colourful collaboration, I asked both Caroline and Elizabeth some questions, so that you can get to know them better too.

Elizabeth Martin Tweed

What inspires you?

People inspire me. I am fascinated how a garment or accessory can transform someone. Be it a confidence thing or to enhance their features. 

I love colour and texture and have always loved craftsmanship, old and new and take inspiration from  natural fabrics like silk, linen, cotton. 

Heritage and provenance of Scottish textiles past and present are what make me most proud. There is such a wealth of talent that has been lost and I love to sing from the rooftops about the textile weavers in Scotland who are still going strong and putting Scotland on the international map. 

Where are your designs made?

I am fortunate enough to have one of the last quality manufacturers in Scotland making my brand for me. We have a wonderful relationship based on respect and trust. Senga McShannock who owns the factory sets incredibly high standards and is so knowledgeable of her craft. I hope that moving forward there are going to be young talent following her footsteps. 

Susan Howells is the wiz behind translating my designs into patterns that work. Susan is a specialist in bespoke tailoring and works for some of London’s top ateliers. I consider myself very fortunate to have her skills on board.

What do you look for in a design as a customer?

Quality, quality, quality. This doesn’t mean a designer label. What I look for is good manufacture, patterns that match up. Beautiful linings- these can be omitted in an effort to cut costs but the lining is the nearest thing to your skin and the tactile sensation is not to be underestimated.  I always look at the label to find out where the garment has been made, who has made it, what is the carbon footprint?

You can explore Elizabeth’s work further on her website here

Caroline Finlay

I met Caroline Finlay at my first ever craft fair in Edinburgh. Ever since then I’ve mostly worn Caroline’s jewellery. I love the colours and shapes she uses, the feel of each piece, and her colours work well with the clothes I tend to wear. The great thing about buying from a made in Scotland designer maker like Caroline, is that I know that the earrings and necklace I own have been made for me, which feels really special and definitely adds to my enjoyment of wearing them. Because they add colour to my life, I wear them a lot, so they’re a great investment. Caroline has also answered some questions so you can get to know a little bit more about her work:

What inspires you?

The unpredictable nature and untamed beauty of the Scottish coastline and landscape is my constant inspiration. The ever-changing colours, textures, shapes, patterns and weather informs my designs. I love nothing more than exploring a remote Highland or Hebridean beach! 

Where/How are your designs made?

I make all my silver and enamel jewellery from my studio at Fire Station Creative, a renovated 1930’s fire station in Dunfermline, Scotland where I’ve been for 8 years and also teach classes from.

Enamel allows me to introduce colour into my work and I use a palette that echoes my inspiration. I explore traditional jewellery making techniques to create mark making and form. All my jewellery is made by hand, I prefer the fluidity this gives my work; nothing is identical. I enjoy the connection this gives me with each piece and the spontaneity that experimenting with enamel allows. I don’t tend to have every design and colour available at one time so a lot of my work is made to order which I love because it means I get to know my customers a little. 

What do you look for in a design as a customer?

I love and appreciate buying and using handmade pieces and find they often look better with age and last forever. From my mug to my purse and handbag or a cushion and love taking part in craft and design fairs and discovering a new makers’ work. I am currently coveting one of Elizabeth Martin’s coats, especially after this shoot as I have several of Flora Collingwood-Norris’s beautiful scarves which I love - I am drawn to her colours which often match my own inspiration; blues, greens and yellows of the wild island coastlines. My favourite is the blanket scarf which is so generous and soft. One of mine is now being used to keep my new baby granddaughter cosy!  

I don’t buy things for myself that often but when I find something I love I know it’ll last well, I’ll love using or wearing it and it is worth paying a little more for.

You can find all Carole Finlay’s work on her website here.

Invest in Something Made to Last

This year I bought one of Elizabeth Martin’s coats- the Cora Coat in green. I’ve been looking at her coats for a few years now, and I tried a few of them on several times each before making up my mind. It ticks all my boxes- it’s made with natural fibres, in Scotland, it’s a beautiful colour (and it has a beautiful colourful lining too) and I know it will last me for at least a decade if I look after it well.

I wanted to create a scarf for myself to go with my new coat- I have a lot of scarves as you can imagine, but I wanted something that would be particularly good with the green. In the end I came up with three new colourways, and a new size of scarf- one that’s in between my regular sized scarves and blanket scarves.

With care, the scarves I make will also last for many years. As my business is just turning 7, I don’t want to make claims about decades yet, but so far the scarves I own are wearing very well! For care tips, click here.

Reducing Waste: Made to Order

This year you’ll find that more of my scarves are made to order. As I’m no longer outsourcing the manufacture of any of my scarves, they are all handmade by me in the studio. In order to reduce waste - both of materials, and time (and to reduce the amount of space I need to store stock), I’ll be making pieces to order. This normally takes about 2 weeks.

I hope this makes each piece more special, as they’ll be made in Scotland especially for you. You can choose to make them even more unique by adding a customised darned square to your scarf if you wish. These are a hand stitched detail, and I really love making each one different.

All photos by Rose+Julien Ltd