The journey of jumper
Where it all started ... here at V&A Dundee in our Scottish Design Galleries, with this Fair Isle knit. Donna Wilson saw it and was smitten and inspired!
Knitted in the 1920's and donated by Mrs M Kirke, this jumper was considered pretty darn fashion fabulous at the time. A very similar one was worn by the then Prince of Wales, which seriously upped the style stakes of fairisle knitwear at the time.
Donna took this design and being Donna, cleverly overlaid it with the three pillars of Dundee's once impressive industrial past; Jute, Jam and Journalism. Using these as icons to create a repeat pattern....
Keeping the striped trim detail at neck and cuffs, Donna and her multi talented team reimagined this jumper in 2 great colourways. Sea blues & sky greys, which seemed to me, to be the true colours of the location of V&A Dundee.
Sampling started at the fabulous micro factory Knitshop, Scotland, another impressive innovation and long held ambition of Donna's to support the long dwindling local textile industry. Visiting this gem of modern industry and meeting the team there was an all time career high for me!
Such an array of great local talent gathered under one micro factory roof, is impressive to say the least! Seeing the machines and team in action was an education.
After knitting each garment piece comes the clever linking machine, then washing and drying and finally there is the jumper!
Plus at the same time as all of the above Donna and team are designing some lovely labelling (I know I am not the only one that is a sucker for a good swing tag, right!?)
We knew from the get go that we wanted this to be a limited numbered edition to make it truly special. Just as we knew the name of the jumper right from the start.
Now you might think this completes the journey of the Jute, Jam and Journalism Jumper, but really it is only the start. We have got it this far and now is out there in the world, having its own splendid new adventures!
And after all that, we need to give you a link to shop it here >
We totally appreciate this jumper is a big investment at £220, at the very least it is a considered purchase. Our aim is that this is a lifetime piece, the sort of knitwear you will pass onto future generations and that they will love it, just as you have loved it. It is a lifetime love of a jumper.