JOHNSTONS OF ELGIN’S VINTAGE TRAVEL COLLECTION HITS STORES THIS AUTUMN – AND WITH IT WILL COME A RENEWED LOVE FOR ALL THINGS 1920S. CATHERINE HUFTON TALKS TO CREATIVE DIRECTOR ALAN SCOTT ON THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE CLOTHES
From luxurious wool car coats – a nod to when motoring had prestige – to colourful art deco-themed cashmere scarfs, luxury knitwear label Johnstons of Elgin effortlessly blends old and new.
It is what makes the brand unique, says creative director Alan Scott. “We have many generations of people in the business that still have traditional skills. We’ve tried to reintroduce these techniques that help us tell the whole story of the company,” he says of the label’s AW19 collection.
Inspired by the 1920s and 30s, the lavish and deep colours are paired with innovative shapes and silhouettes that beautifully showcase intricate tailoring. “I looked into the archives to find inspiration for shape, colour and pattern, and placed this new collection back in time,” he says.
“One of the founding members of the family, Eddie Harrison, was alive in this part of the century. He was a real maverick who changed how the Johnstons of Elgin collection was at that time – he was very creative with colour.
“The first part of this collection is called The Stylish Traveller, about the golden era of travel.” The results are perfect for travel; that can be worn year-round; you just want to live in; and statement blanket scarves printed with romantic steam liners.
The jewel in the collection’s crown has to be the . Knitted in pure-white cashmere and trimmed in scarlet red, it features an art deco propeller-plane intarsia on the back created with 15 colours – a technique that takes 10 hours of workmanship.
“With intarsia, the colours are meticulously laid in by hand a row at a time,” says Scott. “It’s a technique not really used any more as it’s very expensive, but we still have people in our industry that can do it. You can’t create this except by hand.”
Whether you are planning to travel this autumn or stay at home, Johnstons of Elgin’s AW19 collection is the perfect way to introduce a touch of luxury into your wardrobe.