Eribé celebrate their 20th birthday in style!

Abbotsford Celebrations
Border knitwear designers Eribé have celebrated their 20th birthday in style with a fashion show at The Abbotsford in Galashiels that would be the envy of many London catwalks.  A young and enthusiastic band of local models showed a collection sought after and loved by prestigious brand names and retailers all over the world.

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Acutely aware of the hardship suffered in the Scottish Borders’ textile industry with 23 redundancies at Murray Allan of Innerleithen last week, Rosemary Eribé who started her knitwear design company 20 years ago as a graduate of The Scottish  College of Textiles, said:
“There is an opportunity for small and large textile companies to work together in the Scottish Borders so that our mutually beneficial relationship gives our customers the advantage of a wider product range with greater flexibility."

Local Ties
Eribé work with Locharron of Scotland in Selkirk , William Lockie and Cozy Knits of Hawick as well as many other companies from all over the world.

“We are delighted to be working for big name designers such as PRADA, Margaret Howell, Paul Smith and Urban Outfitters too, but we are equally pleased to be selling our products under our own label in the Borders for the first time with a collection appearing in Inis of Hawick, Galashiels in the next few weeks,.” Rosy added.

Japan, America, Europe
The company is well known in Japan, America and France, but not quite so well known in the U.K. and, remarkably, seem to be one of the best kept secrets in the Borders. One of the aims of this show was to raise local awareness as well as to show those who produce and supply for them the world-class calibre of knitwear they create.

Hand Knitters
Eribé had invited many of their 100 hand knitters countrywide to their 20th birthday celebration including Margaret White, Margaret Henderson, vera Morrison and Lyn Walters from the Borders to Val Hamilton from Glasgow and 81-year-old seasoned knitter Ann Percy from Doncaster.

The fashion show began with Rosemary’s college designs: wild, zany and colourful with African tribal influences.

Painted Cashmere
First modelled were the painted cashmere sweaters designed by Rosemary Eribé to tackle the problem of design copying. Each of these sweaters is a unique “painting” and a perfect example of the brilliance and innovation that have kept Eribe alive and thriving.

Fairytale Collection
The Fairytale Collection of gossamer fine tops in vivid colours was displayed with panache by models wearing electric coloured wigs to set off the citrus brights, sizzling scarlets and cuddly creams – even the sober colours of this collection are sparkled.

Scottish Exotic
The art of knitting travelled from Asia through Europe to Scotland and Eribé’s “Scottish Exotic” Collection displayed at the show takes what is Scottish about knitting and throws in other cultures and influences to bring excitement and glamour.

Shetland Wool
Ten years ago Eribé discovered the fantastic resource of wool spun in Shetland from the Peerie sheep who graze the seaweed on the shores of hidden coves on the northern Island of Yell.  No soaps or synthetic dyes are used in making the yarns so the wool is soft, pure and the colour of the fleeces– charcoal, cream and moorit brown. Lawrence Odie and his wife Jennifer had travelled from Yell to see the models show off The Ecology Collection from the sheep they breed on their croft and the wool they spin in their Shetland factory.

Vintage Glamour
The Eribé Vintage Glamour Collection calls on the screen icons of the ‘40s for a close fitting, coy but drop dead sexy look in soft pastels and beiges.

Hawick, Peebles, Galashiels
So from the heady days of Rosemary setting up the business as a single mum working from home with a first class honours degree under her belt, she has successfully attracted the attention of the world’s top retailers. Eribé’s following in the Scottish Borders is growing – look out for highlights of the winter collection in Inis of Hawick, Peebles and Galashiels.

Click image below to view. (Vidoes by Pixie Picture Projects, Scotland.)

 
This short video shows examples from the Eribé hand painted cashmere collection, inspired by well known artists. If the video stops and starts due to buffering you may find it plays more smoothly on the Google Videos page, here.

Hand knitted fine lace garments and shawls in cashmere and superkid mohair. The patterns were inspried by the rugged landscape of Scotland's Northern isles. For Google Video, click here.

Meet some of our hand-knitters and hear what they have to say. For Google Video, click here.

The Vintage Collection, hand knitted cashmere inspired by 1940's styles modernised for todays discerning customer. For Google Video click here.

Vidoes produced by David Holyoak of Pixie Picture Projects, Scotland: www.pixiepicturesproject.co.uk
Stills photography by Marius Alexander. Venue: Roxburgh Hotel, Galashiels. Live band: 'Dab Hand' with Al James, Donald James, Dougie James, Brian Mullin, Neil McLeod and Gareth. Modelling by Emily (photo above), Pamela, Donald, Brian, Helen and Michelle.