Spotlight
Over the last few years, UK designer-makers have faced the growing threat of cheap imported goods which offer a quick fix for the busy consumer of today. But why do we cast aside our morals for the pursuit a fashion fix? We are all guilty of being tempted by low prices, but can we continue to turn a blind eye to the shame of how these cheap products are produced?
In the current climate we are putting more thought into our purchases and here at Velvet Boutique, we encourage you to support your home-grown cottage industries and small businesses. Our up-and-coming Scottish designers create unique products for you to cherish. We invite you to discover the beauty and joy of owning items that are innovatively designed and expertly hand-made and finished. We offer you the story behind the products – who the makers are, where they get their inspirations and what materials and methods they use to produce them.
We continue to work with talented individuals who use a variety of ethical ways to produce their collections. All our makers are dedicated to their craft, whether they are:
- re-working vintage materials
- using traditional Scottish materials such as Harris Tweed, lambswool, deer skin (by-product of the venison industry)
- crafting their products entirely by hand
- printing their unique fabrics in the UK
- or sustaining fair-trade employment for indigenous craft workers both here in Scotland and abroad.
Below we shine our Spotlight just some of our unique makers and draw your attention to the details...
Eco and Ethics
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Susiemaroon make products that have a pure soul about them. She only uses fabrics that are all ethical and ecological including organic fair-trade cotton, vintage tweeds and wild deerskin (by-product of the venison industry which would otherwise be sent straight to landfill). All of Susiemaroon's printed documents and invoices, including her eco-cards, are produced with vegetable based, mineral-oil free inks and FCS certified and recycled paper. |
Showpony is committed to using natural and sustainable materials wherever possible and has created a lovely range of botanical prints which are screen printed by hand onto organic, fair-trade cotton. See the "hidden pattern" inside the pleats... |
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Catherine Aitken has added a new range of organic tweeds to her collection. In a totally organic philosophy the Isle of Mull weavers have developed a unique collection of ethical tweeds from the natural un-dyed Hebridean wools of the Ardalanish sheep. These organic tweeds are so incredibly soft to the touch. |
Shazia Saleem creates womenswear which is eclectic, fun and instantly timeless without compromising on ethics. She utilises luxurious natural fibres such as merino wool from Kashmir, Khadi cotton and pure silks from Orissa and Varanasi, sustaining fair-trade employment for hand weavers, hand embroiderers and independent tailors in Dehli.
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Ethical Design
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Who is helping to keep our Scottish Knitwear industry alive?
Who are our Harris Tweed queens of style?
Who is re-working vintage materials into new desirables?
Searching for something unique, something different, something one-off?
Check out our Gift Ideas and our One-Off & Exclusives pages.
Need it now? Check out our In-Stock pages for a speedy delivery.
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