Barrie, founded in 1903 in Hawick, a small village in the Scottish Borders, is one of the oldest cashmere factories in Scotland. Having started by making stockings, the factory extended its savoir-faire in the 1920s to clothing, and in particular sweaters and knitwear.
While tradition and technique are unwavering values at the House, it also stands out for its taste in innovation and daring. This is why, as well as supplying the biggest names in fashion, starting with CHANEL, Barrie launched its own brand in 2014.
Since 2018, under the impetus of artistic director Augustin Dol-Maillot, cashmere has become a field of pure exploration combining the factory’s creativity and savoir-faire.
Since September 2018, Augustin Dol-Maillot has been artistic director at the House of Barrie. Born in 1989, he joined the CHANEL studio alongside Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard.
His vision is both graphic and modern, and his taste for streetwear is leading cashmere into a gentle revolution. His creation studio, located in Paris, focuses daily on the savoir-faire and the constant innovation of the atelier which is located in Hawick, Scotland: “The beauty of the challenge, is that the technical feats always push creativity ever further. From one stitch or one knit, we create another, and so it continues… This is how the brand tells its story over the collections. Cashmere is a raw material, we have to explore its infinite possibilities.
BARRIE + DAMIEN HIRST COLLECTION
Barrie and Enny Monaco is delighted to announce the launch of an exclusive capsule collection co-created with British artist Damien Hirst, featuring numbered, limited-edition pieces. The artist's work explores the relationships between beauty, science, religion, and life through iconic series such as the Spot Paintings and his Butterflies series. The collection will be available in stores from 22 October and online.
Knitted in Scotland at Barrie's mill in Hawick, the collection “celebrates the Maison's heritage and unique craftsmanship, brought to life in service of Damien Hirst's creative vision and enduring love of the brand,” they said. The set is complemented by a jersey hoodie, scarves, cotton T-shirts, and embroidered patches that allow Barrie's knitwear “to be personalised and styled as desired.” An additional range of collectibles, are a “playful nod to the souvenirs found in museum shops.” The core seven-piece wardrobe features the artist's well-known Spots and Butterflies with the motifs translated into knitwear. The collection includes pieces individually numbered (from 1-100) in each colourway with a zip-up and round neck featuring the Spot motif, each available in white with multicoloured spots, white with grey spots and black with multicoloured spots. The hoodie and pants set feature the Butterfly motif, available in white, black, red and green. The collection also includes a blanket, available in multicoloured and white versions.
