The Enduring Craft of Scottish Weaving
On the edge of Scotland's Southern Uplands, near the historic market town of Biggar, weaving remains a craft measured not by speed but by patience, precision and an instinctive understanding of natural materials. It is here that Colefax and Fowler's new collection, Glen Wools, begins its journey.
The region has long been synonymous with wool. Sheep farming has flourished across these hills for generations, and the neighbouring Borders became internationally renowned for textiles during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Working closely with one of Scotland's long-established weaving mills, Colefax and Fowler set out to create a collection that reflects both the beauty of woven wool and the skill required to produce it.
From Fleece to Finished Cloth
The process begins with carefully selected wool, individually dyed before being spun into fine yarn, so colour develops a depth and subtlety that only woven textile can achieve. Preparing the loom is among the most demanding stages: thousands of warp threads are drawn, one by one, through heddles and reeds, each finding its precise place. As the loom settles into its rhythm, checks, stripes and plaid patterns emerge thread by thread. Watching cloth grow beneath the loom is a reminder that true craftsmanship cannot be hurried. Every metre reflects hours of patient skill and generations of accumulated knowledge.
Four New Weaves, and Four Familiar Favourites
Glen Wools introduces four new designs. Norland Plaid is a generous, softly coloured check with a relaxed character. Glen Check reinterprets the classic windowpane with quiet elegance. Douglas Stripe offers a refined woven stripe that sits comfortably alongside prints and plains. Nairn is a small-scale check, equally suited to traditional and contemporary rooms.
These sit alongside four established favourites, Hutton Plaid, Lowick Plaid, Galloway Plaid and Lanark Plaid, each showing the enduring appeal of beautifully woven wool.
Designed for curtains, upholstery and decorative accessories, Glen Wools brings warmth, texture and quiet structure to a room, whether in a country house or a more contemporary home. Every length of cloth carries the knowledge of generations, preserving traditional techniques while creating fabrics built to be enjoyed for decades to come.
