Wool and Fiber News!

Deal knits together Scots and German fashion in '£100m' Borders boost


Published Date: 05 September 2009
By Robert Fairburn and ALASTAIR DALTON
A BORDERS knitwear firm has signed a multimillion-pound contract that could make it one of Europe's biggest brands.
Peter Scott & Co – famous for its stag logo – has joined forces with German company Peek & Cloppenburg, which has more than 140 fashion department stores across Europe. It has been described as a cross between John Lewis and Harrods.


Ken Pasternak , the Scottish
knitwear firm's managing director, said he hoped the deal would lead to an increase in its 200-strong workforce and new machinery for the 130-year-old company's mill in Hawick.

He said: "There hasn't been a bigger deal of more significance for this mill since we secured the contract to provide the British Army with underwear in 1914."

Peek & Cloppenburg has paid to have the Peter Scott name on its range of clothing, from underwear to shoes, ties and suits.

Knitwear is a key part of the deal, which will continue to be manufactured in Hawick. Other items will be manufactured elsewhere in the EU but will be co-designed by staff in Hawick and Germany.

Peter Scott will also be able to market and sell the clothing line to its own customers worldwide.

Mr Pasternak, who is also chairman of the Scottish Cashmere Club, said he hoped the Peter Scott brand would grow its turnover into £100 million within the next five to ten years.

He said: "I have no doubt that we will become the biggest knitwear brand in Scotland. We want to see our staffing numbers increase.

"This will not only swing Peter Scott around and create a brilliant future for us but it will also have a significant impact on the future of Hawick."

Peek & Cloppenburg was founded in Holland in 1863 and moved to Germany in 1900. It has more than 20,000 staff.

A spokeswoman for Scottish Enterprise said: "This is a fantastic development and will have a significant impact for both the company and the Borders economy.

"Peter Scott is a company which has a strong Scottish heritage but is not afraid to look at new opportunities overseas such as this one.

"This is the kind of attitude we want to instil in more Scottish companies to help them identify new opportunities, to help them through the recession.

http://news.scotsman.com/south/Deal-knits-together-Scots-and.5620544.jp

http://www.peterscott.co.uk/index.html

Binge Drinking

BBC Scotland's Health Correspondent Eleanor Bradford travels to Sweden to discover how the Swedish government has tackled binge drinking and looks at the impact it has had.

All alcohol stores in Sweden are owned by the government


Over recent months there's been a steady stream of stories about the damage caused in Scotland by widespread alcohol abuse. But what's the solution?

Perhaps we should look north-east, to a country very similar to our own, but with far fewer alcohol-related problems: Sweden.

Research has shown that, given the opportunity, both Scots and Swedes binge drink. Yet the average Swede consumes 9 litres of pure alcohol per year, compared with 12 for the average Scot.

I arrive on an important night. The Swedish football team is playing Hungary in the World Cup qualifier.

The pubs are packed, and I ask one fan how much he intends to drink. "Tonight I will have one, or maybe two pints," he says, "but my friend will drink two, I swear!"

I tell him that a football fan in a Scottish pub will probably drink eight pints or more. "You know, just before this match I was watching a documentary about the UK," he says, "...it was called 'hooligans'." Swedes have grown used to a system of heavy state intervention which controls both the price and availability of alcohol

So why does a football fan here seem perfectly happy with one pint? Swedes have grown used to a system of heavy state intervention which controls both the price and availability of alcohol.

Next stop is central Stockholm. All liquor stores here are owned by the government. I meet Sven Andreasson who is a practising doctor and leads the Swedish government's department of public health.

"Our own research indicates that the 'Systembolaget' monopoly reduces consumption by 25-30%," he tells me. "As a consequence it also reduces alcohol related problems."

What immediately strikes me is the huge range of alcohol on offer.

The government is not allowed to discriminate against any producer, so it stocks nearly everything. That range is available whether you live in central Stockholm or the far reaches of the north.
The range of alcohol on offer in Sweden is extensive


Wine and beer is only a few pounds more expensive than in Scotland - although spirits are significantly more.

"Ten years ago the majority of people in Sweden wanted to do away with the Systembolaget," Mr Andreasson tells me. "That has changed, and now it's the reverse. There's a general perception that this is good for public health, and the Systembolaget provides good service."

The next day I take a train and travel 170 kilometres north of Stockholm. Just outside the town of Gavle is Sweden's first whisky distillery. Government controls have brought advantages and disadvantages for "Mackmyra" Whisky.

"We have tastings but we cannot sell our bottles here," explains marketing manager Lars Lindberger. "We can sell only books, glasses, T-shirts and merchandise."

'Political skill'

Mackmyra is lobbying the government to relax the restrictions on distilleries selling their own product.

Other than that, the Systembolaget has played a significant part in making this young company successful. "We sell to one person and he controls 400 stores and nine million customers, so for us it works really really great," Mr Lindberger adds.

The Swedish system is not a complete solution.

I spot a group of alcoholics waiting for the Systembolaget store to open at 10am, and even the average Swede is drinking more.

However, the streets are quiet at night, and I feel far safer walking home.

"It takes political skill and motivation to control alcohol problems," Sven Andreasson tells me. "But our policies are based on research which shows the most powerful tools to control alcohol problems in a nation involve price and availability."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8291833.stm



I don't think we will see this kind of government involvement here in the USA in my lifetime. Crime and poor health is what binge drinking gives society. What a sad thing this kind of drinking is. It certainly has nothing to do with socializing like having a friendly pint once did. To make it worse the women drink as hard as the men. Both of my Brothers nearly lost their lives to drinking. Both no longer will take a drink. I still like a drink once in awhile. I don't find getting pissing drunk fun and never have.

Capital flying high in US visitor stakes

Published Date: 05 October 2009
EDINBURGH is the most popular UK destination for American and Australian tourists after London, new research has revealed.

New data from Experian Hitwise showed that American and Australian web searches for flights to the UK have increased by more than 50 per cent over the last 12 months.

Edinburgh Airport was the second most popular destination, after London.

Sinead Feltoe, regional director for VisitScotland, said: "Edinburgh is recognised as one of the world's top destinations and was runner up as 'Best UK City' in the Sunday Times Travel Awards 2008 and more recently runner up in the UK's Favourite Cities category at the Conde Nast Traveller Awards.

"This report would appear to reinforce the fact that Edinburgh is the UK's fastest growing airport.

"The city has a world-class reputation for its stunning architecture, its unique history as well as its year-long festival programme so it's no surprise that Edinburgh is a 'must visit, must return' destination."

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Capital-flying-high-in-US.5703138.jp

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As a rule I am not a fan of cities but Edinburgh is different. I am crazy about this wonderful place that is so unique and enchanting.

The Wonderful Lewis Chess Men

The Wonderful Lewis Chess Men are going into a traveling exhibit in 2010!





The pieces were made from walrus ivory and whales' teeth


Some of the Lewis Chessmen which were found on a beach in the Western Isles more than 150 years ago are being reunited for a tour of Scotland.

A total of 30 of the 93 pieces will go on display at locations including the island of Lewis, where they were found.

They are thought to have belonged to a 12th Century merchant who visited Lewis as he journeyed from Ireland to Norway.

The exhibition will open at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh in May next year.

The Chessman will also be on display in Stornoway, Shetland and Aberdeen. The official announcement was made by Culture Minister Mike Russell.

He said: "The Lewis Chessmen are a significant part of our culture and this major touring exhibition will give people across the country an opportunity to see some of the most significant archaeological artefacts ever discovered in Scotland."

He continued: "The Chessmen reflect the strong cultural and political links between Scotland and Scandinavia in the Middle Ages and the growing popularity of the game of chess in Europe. I am pleased to announce this major touring exhibition, which will cast new light on the fascinating story of the chessmen and enhance their


"The Chessmen are an important symbol of European civilisation and have captivated the imagination of visitors and academics for many years.

"I am delighted that they will be making a return, a Homecoming, to the Isle of Lewis where they were first discovered in 1831."

The pieces were found in a small stone chamber 15ft beneath a sand dune near Uig on the west coast of Lewis at some point before 1831.

They include elaborately worked walrus ivory and whales' teeth in the forms of seated kings and queens, mitred bishops, knights on their mounts, standing warders and pawns in the shape of obelisks.

It is believed they were made between about 1150-1200 AD when the Western Isles were part of the Kingdom of Norway, not Scotland.

Of the 93 pieces found, 82 are kept at the British Museum, with 11 held by the National Museum of Scotland.

Dr Gordon Rintoul, director of National Museums Scotland, said: "I am pleased to announce this major touring exhibition, which will cast new light on the fascinating story of the Chessmen and enhance their place in the public imagination.

"We are delighted to be creating the exhibition in partnership with the British Museum and grateful for support from the Scottish government for this significant tour."

The Scottish government has committed £75,000 to the exhibition, in partnership with National Museums Scotland and the British Museum.

Fun at the Harmony Harvest Festival

Great Fiddling at the Harmony Historical Society in Blockville, NY


A wonderful time was had by all at the Harmony Historical Society's Fall Harvest Festival. Its not too late to get over there tomorrow. The lilting music was provided by the young fresh fiddle players known as the Bonnie Loch fiddlers. They all hail from right here in the greater Chautauqua Lake region of New York. The band consists of 5 fiddlers backed up by keyboard, guitar and percussion. The fiddlers are ages 14 -17 excluding their director. They have many honors and awards among them and perform regularly throughout the region as well as a recent performance in Inverness Scotland as part of a Trans Atlantic exchange concert series. Bonnie Loch member, Lydia Byard recently earned the title of the US National Scottish Fiddle Champion and is featured on track No. 7. She is the youngest ever to win this honor. This CD, though primarily of Scottish influence, is an exciting combination of genre’s both contemporary and traditional and features exciting originals composed by members of the band.


Bonnie Loch Fiddlers

Harmony Historical Society's
Fall Harvest Festival - October 3-4

Great Forest vision is unveiled

The forest will be created in the heart of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park


A project to recreate an ancient native woodland that covered central Scotland thousands of years ago has been officially launched.

The Great Trossachs Forest, described as one of the most significant regeneration projects in the UK, will link an area of patchwork woodland.

Tree planting across the site, which reaches from Loch Lomond to Callander, has already begun.

The new forest will cover 166 sq km and create 4400 hectares of woodland.

Those behind the scheme said it will become a showcase for wildlife in the area.

'Successful results'

The project will see the creation of more than 10,000 hectares of specific habitat types, including moorland, wetland and grassland in addition to the 4,400 hectares of new woodland.

More than 1,250 hectares of non-native pine will also be removed from the area.

The forest is being created by the Scottish Forest Alliance, a partnership between Forestry Commission Scotland, Woodland Trust Scotland, RSPB Scotland and BP.

Designed to span two centuries, the creation of the forest will encompass Loch Lomond, north of Inversnaid, and stretch to Loch Katrine over Glen Arklet in the heart of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

Speaking ahead of the launch event, Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said the project would bring benefits to locals.

She said: "The Great Trossachs Forest is a remarkable achievement - a stunning resource that offers a host of opportunities and a wide range of environmental, social and economic benefits.

"It is also a model for the future and one that I hope will be adopted elsewhere, hopefully with equally successful results."