Two unrelated memories. Firstly, when I was studying for my professional law exams one of my flatmates was a girl who was knitting a traditional Guernsey jumper. Secondly, until the seventies I wore a traditional cotton over-the head cagoule when mountaineering.
These memories were recently revived when I came across Wayside Flower's collection of hand-knitted ganseys, with their complex, varied and intricate patterns, and their traditional cagoule/anoraks, as worn by mountaineers before the seventies. All made in Britain. Links below.
Cagoule made from British Millerain waxed cotton (colours - black and mustard) |
See the outstanding limited-run products including jackets, knitwear, shirts and accessories at East Yorkshire-based Wayside Flower here.
Panama canvas from a Lancashire mill (colours - sage and navy) |
Traditional gansey available in different patterns - looking good with tartan neckerchief |
I recently did a bit of research into the Gansey and was planning to do one myself (Saltburn or Runswick Bay). I also discovered the gruesome fact that the different patterns, representing the different fishing villages meant that if or when a body was found washed up on the shore they knew which community to return it to.
ReplyDeleteThe Panama canvas jacket looks marvellous! Definitely a brand that is worthy of further investigation.
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing it to my attention!
These clothes are wonderful. I have two 'Ganseys', well one Jersey actually, both bought in Jersey they never go out of style. I really like the canvas jacket too.
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