What a delight to see our knitwear in The Observer!
Shot on location in Skye, our Byre cape is included The Observer Magazine's feature on Scottish knitwear.
Skye artist Diana Mackie wears the Byre cape.
Photograph: Richard Dowker for The Observer.
Cracking good yarns: the rise and rise of Scottish knitwear
Established designers are working with emerging brands to give a bold new twist to the auld traditions of Scotland’s authentic makers
Victoria Moss: words
Richard Dowker: photographer
Jo Jones: fashion editor
Sam Deaman: fashion assistant, production and casting
Peter MacAskill wears cardigan by Dunhill.
Photograph: Richard Dowker for The Observer.
The article by Victoria Moss is an interesting, detailed read and is accompanied by gorgeous, playful photography by Richard Dowker – with local people modelling the knitwear.
Interviewees for the piece include designers as well as fashion experts.
“People have different ideas of what Scotland is, and you choose to wear your bit of it.”
Leonie Bell
V&A Dundee, Director
Diana Mackie in her Skye studio, wearing the Nielanell Rani jumper.
Photograph: Richard Dowker for The Observer.
In the main photo story, our Byre cape is worn by Skye artist Diana Mackie.
On social media, The Observer Magazine also shared a portrait of Diana wearing our Rani jumper.
Eagle-eyed fibre folk will spot Kirsty and Simon of Shilasdair Yarns. Kirsty wears a jumper by Jo-AMI and accessories hand-knitted in Shilasdair yarn. Simon wears a jumper by Begg X Co and a bandana by Johnston's of Elgin.
Photograph: Richard Dowker for The Observer.
It's a real honour to see Nielanell in this feature.
Our knitwear sits alongside pieces from designers and makers that include Johnstons of Elgin, Pringle of Scotland and Begg X Co – Scottish firms with hundreds of years of history behind them – as well as big names in contemporary fashion and small, much newer labels like Dundee's Jo-AMI.
We are in very good company; thank you to The Observer fashion team.
And, our sincere thanks to you – our readers and friends – for all your continuing support.
We'd not be here without you.
Context for our international readers
The Observer is a national, Sunday newspaper.
Published in London, its digital and print editions are widely read across the UK and further afield. Previously a sister paper to The Guardian, since 2025 The Observer has been owned by Tortoise Media.
Byre cape
