Hainsworth’s British heritage credentials blow me away. Yet until I was contacted by the PR about their relatively new retail brand, Scarlet & Argent, I’d ashamedly never heard of the 225 year old Yorkshire wool mill.
One of the UK’s oldest companies, it has been run as a family concern for 7 generations. Hainsworth has a peerless pedigree when it comes to textile manufacture – in a serendipitous twist of fate, the family run mill bought William Lupton & Co (another wool mill) from Kate Middleton’s great grandparents in 1958 and Hainsworth went on to supply the red cloth for Charles’ uniform that he wore to his wedding to Diana in 1981. Weird huh?!
In a nice nod to the family link, both William’s and Harry’s uniforms were also made using Hainsworth wool for William’s wedding in 2011.
So, royal ties aside, the interest for us mere commoners is Scarlet & Argent’s incredible heirloom blankets and throws. I say heirloom as not only are these textiles amazing historic examples of this country’s wool industry but at £150-£450 they are real investment pieces that should be cherished and past from generation to generation. As a family who have inherited pretty much all our most prized possessions from grandparents and parents, I am always mindful of what I might pass on to future generations.
As with any brand that I champion for Countryfille.com I like to touch, feel, taste, experience or trial any product before recommending it, so Hainsworth kindly lent me a couple of their finest example textiles for the weekend.
They were a surprise hit with Mr. Country Bebe. Who immediately curled up under the ‘Twill and Granite’ throw in berry (£150) and sat contentedly watching original Bugs Bunny re-runs on a wet Sunday afternoon (is there anything better?!).
Made from 100% Merino lambswool it is super warm, soft and cosy. Big enough for two to cwtch under, but lightweight enough to sit neatly on the end of the sofa when not in use.
At the other end of the blanket spectrum was this behemoth beauty: the weighty ‘Top & Tail’ blanket (£250) in grey melange and damson. Made from 100% shetland wool, this time with a more rugged, textured finish.
I love the pop of colour against our monochrome walls and linens. Plus this heavier gauge blanket is perfect for winter – don’t you love being curled up in a nest of duvets and blankets all cosy warm with the air around you fresh and crisp? This from a woman who has been known to sleep with the window open in a snow storm, a good blanket is the only thing standing between me and hypothermia come February.
Wouldn’t they make a beautiful wedding gift? Or how about these beautiful pram blankets for a godchild, trimmed with vintage Liberty print?
A definite ‘CF Loves’ stamp of a approval.
www.scarletandargent.co.uk
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