Organisers of Shetland Wool Week are calling on as many people as possible to get involved in ‘Fair Isle Friday’ as part of the Wool Week 10 year celebrations next week.
On Friday 4 October, Shetland Wool Week will be launching ‘Shetland Wool Week Fair Isle Friday’. The aim is for this to be an annual event celebrating and raising the profile of Fair Isle design and Shetland’s textile heritage by encouraging people to ‘wear and share’ their Fair Isle and to decorate their workplaces, schools and businesses with the distinctive pattern.
Sandy Middleton, Head of Engagement at the Shetland Amenity Trust, organisers of Wool Week said, “The concept of ‘Fair Isle Friday’ has been popular on social media for a while now. We are keen to see as many people as possible getting involved next Friday as part of our celebrations. We have seen so many creative uses of the distinctive Fair Isle pattern in Shetland – from business vans, sports teams, uniforms and of course the wonderful local knitwear. We are hoping that next Friday – 4 October – as many people as possible will be ‘wearing and sharing’ their Fair Isle and using the pattern in creative ways.”
Even the Shetland Ponies will be getting into their Fair Isle jumpers on the day and will be visiting Hay’s Dock outside the Shetland Museum and Archives between 12:30 and 2:30pm (weather permitting). Individuals, businesses, clubs and organisations are asked to wear their Fair Isle next Friday and are welcome to come and join the ponies for a photo or simply share their own photos with Shetland Wool Week and on Social Media using #SWWFairIsleFriday. A number of local schools and businesses are getting involved and are creating Fair Isle decorations for the day, including the Fair Isle primary School.
Sandy continued, “We are working with Promote Shetland and VisitScotland to try and ensure we get as much coverage as possible for Shetland, for Fair Isle, and of course for our incredible textile heritage and wool industry.”
Share your ‘Fair Isle Friday’ photos on social media using #SWWFairIsleFriday or email the photos to the team at info@shetlandamenity.org. To find out more and to get involved see the Shetland Amenity Trust.
