THE Cashmere collaborative

​This is the first year The Cashmere Collaborative has run in partnership with Sinclair Duncan, DYW Borders, Heriot-Watt University and SBC Education. It is a real-life project where groups of four S3 pupils designed two Cashmere Scarves. One to be produced and sold at Abbotsford House and the other to be produced and presented to the Best Dressed at Kelso Racecourse Ladies Day in May 2020. 

Throughout the last year pupils from Galashiels Academy, Earlston High School, Berwickshire High School and Jedburgh Grammar School received workshops, tours of local factories/ university campus as well as being very fortunate to be mentored by Heriot Watt students who helped use their expertise to guide the pupils through the process. Pupils worked through each step as if the scarf was being produced in industry, using the same digital packages and processes. 

The judging panel were overwhelmed with the amount of work that had gone into market research, colour trends, taking time to understand the manufacturing process and creating a CAD that shows how the end product will look.  All teams had gone above and beyond the realms of the project, working out with class time, which shows a real dedication and strong skills that will transfer well into the world of work.

Winner of the Abbotsford Scarf design - Earlston High School

Winner of the Kelso Races Ladies Day Scarf design  - Jedburgh Grammar School

The Sinclair Duncan Award for Design Excellence  - Galashiels Academy

The DYW Award for work-skills Excellence -  Berwickshire High School

We are also delighted to announce the project will be exhibited at the Textile Towerhouse in Hawick to show off the teams presentation boards as well as their finished scarves and the journey they have been on. Details and dates to follow!