Welsh textile

Whilst staying in Wales,  I was reminded that the region has a beautiful tradition of textile visible in the historic woolen mills which dot the countryside and its famous Welsh blankets. Sadly, the region  lost the Burberry factory in the Rhondda valley in 2007, taking jobs away and moving its manufacturing activities to China.

However, the Welsh textile tradition is not dead and has been taken up by contemporary companies that keep those skills alive and expand on them with a modern outlook.
Melin Tregwynt
Melin Tregwynt is one of them. The mill has been in the same family since 1912 and is family run, employing 20 people.  It is located in what looks idyllic from the pictures shown on the website. I knew them for their upholstery fabric and I am the proud owner of a cushion covered in their Mondo design.

Melin Tregwynt also have a clothing line that I discovered on their website, from dressing gowns (£230-310) to jackets (£170 to 240) and Birkenstock clogs (£85) or slippers (£39). Please not that the beautiful pictures (from the website) feature an elegant grey hair lady who might well be over 40.

Llynfi
I came across Llynfi textile company, another Welsh textile company, through my friend K. who has a sharp eye for interesting shops and designers and a great love of textile. Llynfi textile are craft dyers, designers and makers of clothing and accessories run by mother and daughter team Sue and Emily James. They use natural, sustainable fibres and their dyes are certified by the Soil Association. Dyes and wool are for sale in a range of beautiful colours and available through their website. The small collection of clothes was on sale in Hay on Wye at The Great English Outdoors and I was able to feel the fabrics and try a beautifully cut shirt (£107) and a very cute cardigan in Shetland wool (£130).

Both Melin Tregwynt and Llynfi appeal to me for their ability to tap into local skills and tradition whilst bringing modern aesthetics to their designs.  Their ability to sustain local activity, run family businesses and their green credentials give them integrity. The useful and beautiful products they create are meant to be cherished and enjoyed for a the long term, perfect for this discerning 40+ woman!