Bridgette Kelly, Interior Textiles Director, Campaign for Wool (CfW)
Bridgette Kelly is also a Campaign for Wool Consultant at The British Wool Marketing Board.
Bridgette is at the helm of projects that encourage people to embrace this special fibre. For interiors, she showcases wool as a lifestyle fibre, making it look as beautiful as it possible and as practical as any fibre in the world.
The wonderful thing about Wool Week is that every year there is always something a little ‘alternative’ about it! This October The Campaign for Wool will mark its sixth successful year with its annual ‘Wool Week’. Taking place from the 5th – 11th, Wool Week will celebrate everything woolly with a Savile Row launch and a pop up interiors exhibition, Capsu Wool, from the 5th October.
Each year we – as in the Campaign for Wool (CfW) team – endeavour to create a series of events that make people see and experience wool in an exciting and inclusive way. Our aim is always to inspire and educate – and this year is certainly going to do that!
Wool Week would never be complete without sheep and we have two flocks appearing on Savile Row – this is a return visit for the CfW to the dashing home of sartorial good taste and one which we know will draw the crowds. ‘Sheep on the Row’ is open for one day only – Monday 5th – and will see the proud Exmoor Horns and lovely Bowmont sheep breeds grazing on real grass laid especially for them. No doubt they will be curious as to why people stare at them so but they are the indisputable stars of our wool story after all!
A number of beautiful wool attired models will add a little extra interest to the day and the Savile Row Tailors themselves will host various open-door events. It will be an extraordinary experience to see the transformation from cityscape to woolly wonderland!
Not far way at 4, Clifford Street, we are hosting our ‘Wool Open House’, which houses the fantastic Capsu-Wool interiors pop-up. Small and stylish with a nod to the bespoke and a very cool colour palette – we are exploring wool in a compact space. Neatly divided in to two areas – there is a tailored masculine study neatly offset by a fresh and feminine lounge.
Our Carpet Art feature celebrates great patterns in carpet and includes the wonderful Ben Pentreath for Alternative Flooring collection – it is fantastic to see wool carpet designs that can deservedly be the statement piece in the home!
Quirky B, Lattice in Flitcroft, Ben Pentreath for Alternative Flooring
I really love that people are excited about pattern and colour again – what better way to make your home special and unique. But another top interior trend is authenticity – Barefoot by Alternative Flooring with its deep luxury pile, in 100% natural undyed wool is absolutely gorgeous.
I am thrilled to have pieces from Margo Selby on display at Capsu-Wool – handwoven artworks and the Sierra rug, because I always say that the wool business is about passion, skills and commitment – and Margo has all of that! She has evolved a beautiful collection of woven products and partnerships that rightly recognise her design talent, training and technical abilities.
Hand-woven Lampas and Sierra Rug by Margo Selby
Wallace Sewell cushions
Colour and texture unite this installation with fabulous fabrics and furnishings expertly styled by Arabella McNie (Wool House, Wool Collection) but it is wool with its impressive natural diversity that is the single defining story here.
Designers Guild Tulipani Throw in Graphite
Capsu-Wool is a Wool Week must-see and its open from 5th – 9th October, 10am – 7pm, and admission is free.
Other things – we have knitting and craft workshops from Tuesday to Friday with some great experts – Marie Wallin, R&B, Craft Revolution and Wool & the Gang and we are also running a TwinSpin promotion to encourage people to take up hand-spinning. We will pair them with a Twin to teach them spinning in their locality. Woolly Hat Day on Friday is in support of the Mission to Seafarers – who still wear a lot of wool! Wear your woolly hat with pride!
Wool was perhaps not seen as an exciting fibre when HRH The Prince of Wales launched this Campaign in 2010 but quietly it has always been the natural, sustainable superstar of the textile world. It has amazing performance capability – and will last longer and look better than any other fibre. This Wool Week – I hope you decide to choose wool!
