Introducing Summer Vibes: the 2022 Kids of Kurland Kikoi

Every year we invite a class of students from the Crags Primary School for a tour of our mill, and a workshop in textile design.

The day begins with a mill tour – getting a first-hand view of the looms, and a demonstration from our weaving supervisor, Nicolette.

For those who’ve had a chance to walk among the looms, you’ll understand the full sensory experience of the Mungo Mill – noisy, visceral, but offering up a view of real craftsmanship – an insightful educational experience that brings visitors behind the scenes; connecting product to process. A significant experience perhaps for a generation raised in a digital age.

With Nicolette silencing the machines one by one, the students got a more intimate look – getting to grips with how a textile is woven to life – the warp and weft, picks, pirns and pattern cards…

From the mill, the class is taken round our flagship store, guided by our retail manager, Jonica. From first fibres pulled together into fabric, the shop tour brings home the finished product. Function and form coming to life in all the many colours and texture of Mungo bath, bed, kitchen or table linens.

From there, the students make their way into the designing phases – preempted by an introduction to colour theory and colour psychology – reflecting on the signficance of colour and symbolism, and how a hue can revive, inspire or evoke a mood or moment.

The fundamentals of design – the importance of form meeting function – are looked at, leading the students into the design of the day: the kikoi. Looking at examples from our range, poring over pattern and colour, the students get to grips with their kikoi designs. With magazines as inspiration, and a selection of yarn colours to choose from, the students are guided to create their very own colourway, with help from our resident colour expert and designer, Lenore.

Using paper and drawing materials, the students lay out their designs, drawing on their own sources of inspiration, and naming the designs accordingly. Yarn wrappings are then attached to the finished works.

From there, Lenore pulls together the designs into simulations. Each simulation is put to a vote, first internally and then to our followers, and a winning design is selected, woven to life and sold in our stores and online.

The full proceeds of the sale of this kikoi go towards the Kids of Kurland project, which funds a much-needed additional teacher at the Crags Primary School.

‘Summer Vibes’ was designed by Grace Hendrickse.

A good looking kikoi, that’s pretty ‘feel good’ too.

Now available to shop online and in our stores.