Member Article

Happy Birthday to Ewe: Luxury woollen homewares brand celebrates fourth birthday ahead of 10th annual wool week

This month (September 2020), sees Yorkshire-based luxury homewares brand, Adriana Homewares, celebrate its fourth birthday. It is particularly special, as it falls just in time for the tenth annual wool week celebrations (5-18 October), part of the national Campaign for Wool.

The campaign, which counts HRH the Prince of Wales as its Patron, is a cause close to Founder, and proud Yorkshire-woman, Adriana Gentile’s heart. She has always championed the personal touch and hand makes all her products in her Leeds-based studio at Hainsworth Mill, renowned for its historical and modern-day connections to the textiles industry.

After graduating from the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design and receiving support from The Prince’s Trust Enterprise scheme, Adriana, from Keighley in West Yorkshire, spun the business to life in 2016.

Combining her passion for colourful interiors and sustainable, local manufacturing, Adriana Homewares offers luxurious fabrics and plush products made from the finest 100% British Wool.

Adriana is particularly passionate about the use of British Wool in her product ranges, which include super-soft throws, country-inspired cushions and stylish scarves.

She said of her fibre choice; “We have used high-quality, sustainable British wool since the very beginning, it’s a non-negotiable for me. Wool is 100% natural and renewable, as well as being hypoallergenic and flame retardant. It’s an underrated fabric and we want to shout about all the benefits this timeless material has to offer.

“Looking back on the past four years, one standout moment for me was attending the Campaign for Wool’s Wool Conference at Dumfries House. I was representing the Prince’s Trust and was fortunate enough to show my brand-new fabrics to industry leaders including His Royal Highness, Prince Charles.

“It was so inspiring to be part of this historic event and it really cemented my passion to grow Adriana Homewares to where it is today. It’s a poignant time and I reflect on it each year during Wool Week, this year more than ever as well,I think we’ve really seen people start to shop more consciously, choosing smaller, local businesses, just like ours.

Adriana is looking forward to the next four years of business growth, when she hopes to expand her product range, develop new fabric ranges and explore the use of other sustainable fibres.

Adriana concluded; “We are so grateful to all our loyal customers who have supported us over the last four years, investing in our truly British woollen wares, I can’t wait to see what the next four years brings and to share these with them too!”

The Campaign for Wool is a global community seeking to “educate as many people as possible about the incredible benefits and versatility of wool in fashion, furnishings and everyday life”. It celebrates its 10th anniversary from 5-18 October 2020.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Rhiannon Bates .