Tradition, history and elements of nature all come together in this honey-toned commemorative scarf, a textile heritage collaboration between Johnstons of Elgin and the Prince of Wales’s family estate, Highgrove.The natural Merino Wool fibres used to create this contemporary piece can be traced from farm to finished product – appropriate credentials for a scarf launched to coincide with the Campaign for Wool’s 11th year and COP26. Johnstons of Elgin will donate 10% of retail sales from the scarf to The Princes’s Foundation, dedicated to creating communities for a more sustainable world.
HIGHGROVE
Highgrove House and its Gloucester estate were owned by various families before the Duchy of Cornwall purchased them in 1980. The house and gardens, now home to the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, are run according to the Prince of Wales's environmental principles and receive more than 3,000 visitors per year.
The warm honey tones of our Highgrove Heritage Scarf are inspired by Highgrove Gardens’ bees, and the bee also holds great significance for Johnstons of Elgin, forming part of our brand logo for almost 100 years. The bee emblem, representing the busy workforce at our Scottish mills, was sketched into our first company emblem in the 1930s. Our team is now around 1,000 people-strong, from apprentices to artisans and innovators, many of whom have been honing their rare textile skills for more than 40 years.
A NOD TO NATURE
Elements of nature are woven into the heart of The Highgrove Heritage Scarf. We placed the iconic Prince of Wales check over an enlarged Shepherd check to provide an aesthetic that reflects the history of traditional checks and tweeds. The Shepherd Check is the foundation of all checks, originally coloured from undyed wool using the black, dark browns and whites from wool clip and woven into shawls worn by the Border shepherds. The next of the original checks was the Prince of Wales Check, created by King Edward VII during his time in Scotland as Prince of Wales. The Highgrove Heritage Scarf is a modern interpretation of these historical designs.
FROM SHEEP TO SHOP
Our Highgrove Heritage Scarf is made using 100% Ultrafine RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) Merino Wool from Australia. We have been processing Merino Wool from this Commonwealth continent for generations, and you can read more about work with Australian Merino farmers on our Sustainability hub. The first Merino Sheep were introduced to Australia in 1797, the same year that Johnstons of Elgin was established, while Highgrove was under construction - reaching completion in 1798.
His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, has tirelessly championed the benefits of wool, from its natural, renewable, biodegradable properties to its breathability, resilience and natural elasticity.
THE PRINCE’S FOUNDATION
The Prince’s Foundation aims to find holistic solutions to the challenges facing the world today. The organisation runs a diverse programme of education and training for all ages and backgrounds and regenerates places where communities thrive and visitors can enjoy. The Foundation works nationally and internationally, based at Dumfries House and Gardens in Scotland.
Thank you to everyone who purchased one of our Highgrove Heritage Scarves and in turn donated to The Prince's Foundation.