Autumn 2011 - Trending textures

We might be experiencing a little glimpse of summer here in Newquay this week but in the office we are in the throes of Autumn with the online launch of our new Autumn 2011 collection. Of course, your catalogue won’t be far behind, with delivery starting in a couple of weeks’ time but this will be your first opportunity to see our exciting new range. Without giving too much away, I can confirm that it is our biggest ever collection and is practically overflowing with gorgeous knits and comfy cardis for you to snuggle up to over the colder months.

Over the past few weeks, my email inbox has been inundated with daily updates and summaries of the predicted popular trends for the upcoming season. As I scour the images of catwalk shows and high street previews, one of the prevalent trends for this Autumn/Winter is one that we like to think we do quite well – textures. Many of the glossies are highlighting chunky boyfriend cardigans and raw cut sheepskin gilets and jackets as must-have items and – of course - we couldn’t agree more!

Here at Celtic Sheepskin, we are dedicated to creating wearable pieces from some of the best natural fibres around. There are many variants of wool to choose from and this season we have selected yarns to keep you warm even on the coldest day such as cashmere & geelong and also fibres which help regulate body heat (useful as the outside or inside temperature fluctuates) such as superfine Merino. Read more about our wool choices here.

To give you a hint of what’s to come, I have picked out a few pieces which highlight some of the lovely textures which you will find in our new collection…

First off, here's our Cable Boyfriend Cardi...

Judging by the number of times I have seen similar items on the fashion pages I predict this cosy cardi style to be very popular this Autumn/Winter. As well as being bang on trend with its traditional style cabling, our Cable Boyfriend Cardi is also effortlessly suitable to wear over pretty much anything! You could layer it over a t-shirt or rollneck jumper or perhaps wear it over a dress with a belt.

Moving away from cosy knitwear for the moment but in keeping with the textured trend, sheepskin is set to make a big impression again this Winter season according to catwalk reports. Being such a tactile texture, it truly lends itself to being layered over contrasting fibres as our model has done with the cashmere rollneck in this image…

This Tie-Front Gilet is such an easy-to-wear piece as the close-cut wool makes it very light for sheepskin. The on-trend camel and chocolate shades work with most colours and the gilet can be dressed up or down to your heart’s content. A flexible friend indeed!

Now for a texture which adds a bit of textured pizazz to your wardrobe…

Aren’t they wonderful?

These Himalayan Boots are sure to catch the attention of anyone who sees them and I think they are irresistible. The sheepskin cuff is bound to keep your legs snug even on the chilliest days and the boots are made in our factory in Cornwall to our usual design so you can be sure that they will fit like a glove and protect your feet from the harsh elements as well.

Are you excited yet? There are many more textured pieces to discover within our new collection but I want to leave some delights to discover for yourselves. For the time being, we hope you enjoy exploring the new range.

Celtic Sheepskin Summer Sale - our favourites

Following on from our last blog post on Thursday, did you manage to have a look at our sale items over the weekend? Some of the items have been flying off the shelves but luckily for you, as of this morning there were definitely plenty of bargains still to be had.

In case time is not on your side today, we have shortlisted some of the pieces which most grabbed our attention last weekend. For those of you who have browsed the site already, you will have noticed that many of the sale items are current season stock so it goes without saying that you might well need to be quick off the mark with these goodies! I have to say at this point that it has been a difficult decision for us to pick just a few items as there were just so many to choose from but we have whittled it down to four…

The Topsy-Turvy Knit has been one of our favourites from the Spring/Summer collection since we first saw it and now it is reduced to just £26 which we think makes it more than a bit of a steal!
The reason we love this top is down to the little details – it has lacing on one shoulder, stitch detail on the other and an asymmetric cut which all together make it a really interesting piece.

For something completely different, we have picked out the High-Waisted Skirt…
This skirt will be a wise choice for the coming season as it combines the ever-popular high-waisted look with the midi length which has been seen everywhere over the summer. It’s a great casual skirt and at nearly 60% off it is a bargain!

The third piece we have chosen is the Ocean Batwing with Snood…
This is a particularly special buy as in addition to being reduced by nearly 60% it also comes with its very own matching snood! We particularly love the Ocean colour and soft merino feel of this jumper.

Last but not least, in preparation for the inclement months ahead, (and just as useful right now for that matter!) we love the Hazelwood Waxed Jacket…
We think this is much more stylish than some of the waxed jackets on the market and of course it is equally as practical. We love the length as it makes it wearable as a day-to-day jacket as well as a useful waterproof.

So have we managed to whet your appetite with our choices? As I mentioned earlier, these offers won’t last for ever and once they’re gone, they’re gone…need I say more?

Exclusive announcement – Celtic Sheepskin Summer Sale!

Over the past few weeks I have noticed that I can’t walk past a shop window or browse a shopping website without seeing big signs screaming “Sale!” everywhere. It’s a perfect time of year to treat ourselves to something new with the added bonus of it being that touch cheaper than usual.

In the past, we haven’t held our own specific sales as we genuinely believe that the prices of our products reflect the quality of craftsmanship and the yarns & fibres that we use. Having said that, we think it’s only right that we should be able to offer you - our customers – a little bit of a treat so I am very excited to announce that we will be launching a Summer ‘11 sale this weekend!

Having been privy to some insider information, I know that there will be some brilliant bargains to be bagged, so much so that I have already starting making a list of my favourites. I can’t say too much just yet but I can reveal that there will be a widespread range of end-of-line knitwear and lightweight clothing as well as sheepskin jackets for those of you who would like to prepare for the colder seasons (sheepskin is once again set to be a huge trend this winter).

So when’s this sale going to happen?

Well, all you lucky newsletter subscribers will be the first to know all about it on Saturday when you will receive more information directly to your email inbox! To ensure you’re in the know for future offers, you can subscribe to our newsletter via the website (there is a link to do this on every page of our website).

Incredibly our sale will include pieces from our current Spring/Summer collection as well as Autumn garments at prices reduced by up to 70% - amazing! While I can’t say any more at the moment, suffice to say it will be worth the suspense…

Looking ahead to the not-too-distant future, I am also thrilled to let you know that our new season lines are starting to fill the warehouse shelves ready for our website and catalogue launch over the next few weeks. The website will be having a refresh and - as I mentioned in my last post - the new Autumn 2011 catalogue is practically bulging with natural Knits and luxurious Loungewear.


With three Autumn/Winter catalogues to come over the next few months and our inaugural sale this weekend, all that’s left for me to say today is…

Happy shopping!

Behind the scenes at Celtic Sheepskin - by Caitlin Merrin (Year 10 student on Work Experience)

Never did I think I would have the opportunity to witness what goes on behind the scenes of such a thriving fashion company as Celtic Sheepskin, but last week I was lucky enough to have the chance!

I've always had an interest in the industry so when it came to finding a week-long placement for my work experience, I knew fashion was the direction I wanted to go in.

When I took my first step into the offices at Celtic Sheepskin last Monday, in all honesty I didn't really know much about the company and how the products are produced. I just thought that maybe some of the processes such as sewing and packing were carried out on site; in actual fact, I couldn't have imagined the scale of production that goes on here! All the sheepskin boots, slippers and flip-flops are made in the factory on Treloggan Industrial Estate, Newquay. Each pair goes through a rigorous process to make sure that it meets the high standards expected by their customers. This process includes cutting, sewing, gluing and, most importantly, checking the product thoroughly for any imperfections before it reaches the shelves.

The majority of Celtic Sheepskin's products are made in Great Britain. Keeping production in this country means that Celtic can retain control of the quality and excellent finish of their products that we know them for - this is what they pride themselves on. The company also works in a sustainable way; minimising waste where possible; for example all their sheepskins are a by-product of the meat industry and using organic fibres in their products results in less damage to the environment.

I am so thankful to everyone at Celtic who took the time to take me on and show me the ropes in such a diverse industry! The media sometimes portrays the fashion world as cruel and spiteful, but that certainly isn't the case here. If anyone has any interest in fashion and is looking for ideas for work experience, I would definitely recommend Celtic Sheepskin. I was given a valuable insight into what actually goes on and I can't thank everyone enough :-)

Here are some photos which I collated during the week…


-Thank you Caitlin. It was lovely to have you on board for the week and we are glad that you learned a lot.

The new Autumn '11 catalogue will soon be in your hands...

While most of you are probably thinking of summer sun, warm light evenings and more barbeques than you can possibly squeeze in, here at Celtic HQ we are in the throes of Winter! The monthly glossies are already writing about Christmas and we had our press day back in the middle of May so I for one am almost ready to don my dressing gown and slippers and curl up in front of a log fire (and with the ‘summer’ weather that we have had lately, I don’t think I would look much out of place.

With just under a month to go before the launch of our Autumn 2011 catalogue, I was very lucky to have the opportunity to sneak a peek at the finished product earlier this week and dare I say I think this could be our best yet! We are producing three different catalogues for the coming season with one being released as we head into the depths of winter and another strategically timed for Christmas!

As you can imagine, the contents of the Autumn catalogue are still very much a close-guarded secret and I wouldn’t wish to spoil the surprise for you of seeing the gorgeous garments on offer. With our clothing collection expanding year-upon-year, we will be offering our largest range of knitwear yet with over 40 gorgeous knits, many coming in various colours and new clothing sections as well. All will be revealed in due course! And to top it all off, the new products will be going live on our website even before the catalogue is launched so you really don’t have much longer to wait at all!

As an exclusive taster of what’s to come, just for you, our avid blog readers, for the first time I can reveal our front cover (drum roll please)…

So what do you think?

I must stress that apart from the Shortie Boots, the items featured in the image above are not available to buy just yet but rest assured that we will let you know the moment they are available! The beautiful knit pictured is our Slouchy Sunday Roll Neck made from a fine mix of merino and angora to make it unbelievably soft jumper. The Small Postman’s Bag is made from 100% sheepskin and I think it is likely to be as popular as our other across-the-body bags as it is the perfect accessory for any occasion. What a cosy looking-outfit!

With pieces like these just for starters, I’m sure you’ll agree that this catalogue is worth the wait. In the meantime, just to whet your appetite, here are some of the Cornish vistas captured during the photo-shoot…

Picturesque Cornwall - Park Head

With the summer holidays just around the corner I imagine that some of you might be planning to head down to Cornwall for a family getaway, especially as stay-cations (going on holiday without leaving the country) seem to be THE choice of break for many people.

I feel very fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the country as Cornwall, surrounded by unspoilt sandy beaches and stunning scenery. It would be easy to take it for granted but rest assured I most definitely do not! In fact last weekend I made the most of the summery weather and went walking with my other half around one of the lesser-known National Trust sites on the north coast of Cornwall; Park Head. I took a few photos which show just how beautiful it is…

Park Head is an area situated about 8 miles up the coast from Newquay, between Bedruthan Steps and Porthcothan. It is managed by the National Trust but is free to visit and, better still, to park. It is signposted subtly from the road on the left if you are heading up the coast towards Porthcothan.

The walk that we took started from the car park and through a couple of fields (all on public footpaths I hasten to add!). As we came through a kissing gate we were met with the most beautiful view out to sea…

Isn’t it just stunning? I love the way the sun reflects of the turquoise sea and the craggy rocks in the background. If you look closely, you can just make out Newquay in the distance.

As we carried on walking, we met a few fellow ramblers, some of whom were fully kitted out with Nordic poles and picnic hampers! As this was quite a spontaneous decision, we were somewhat less organised and made do with just walking boots and light layers!

I love the rugged yet green landscape in this part of the county. We saw some beautiful flowers which dotted the headland with splashes of colour…

The coast path took us right around the headland where we could see far up the coast towards Constantine.
It then wound around and down into the valley. As the footpath opened out into a field at the edge of the valley, there was a herd of cows in the distance. We started to head up the hill past them to reach the main road and while we were slightly nervous, the cows looked nothing more than a bit curious!

After a short walk up the road to the car park our ‘hike’ was over. It was just over 2 miles but we walked at a leisurely pace, sitting down on grassy banks on a couple of occasions to take it all in!

Park Head is such a beautiful place to explore and is suitable for a family expedition as while the ground is slightly uneven in places, there are many clear paths as well.

If you are thinking of going on a coastal walk to Park Head or somewhere similar, I don’t mean to sound patronising when I say this but I would advise dressing suitably for the occasion. I saw a number of people struggling to negotiate uneven ground in flip-flops! My suggestion would be to invest in a sturdy and supportive pair of walking boots...

Our Sheepskin-Lined Walking Boots are water-resistant and unbelievably comfortable, and they have a deep rugged tread to tackle uneven and slippery areas.

Hidden gems...

In preparation for Autumn/Winter, I was having a sort through of our press samples room the other day (which I might start referring to as Narnia because it seems to be the home for a gamut of Celtic goodies which I didn’t know were there!) and I came across some ‘hidden gems’; We sell some products exclusively via the website meaning you won’t find them in our our current spring/summer catalogue so it’s possible that you won’t have come across them before or you might just be thankful for the reminder!

These ‘gems’ might not have the spotlight of the catalogue but that doesn’t mean they don’t shine! So to save you time searching for them yourselves, I thought I would show you a brief round-up of my finds…

Here is my first find - the Crossover Deep V Tank…
As the model so expertly demonstrates in the image above, this top works as a brilliant beach cover-up. I love how the strategically-placed crossover section of the tank channels the cropped top trend which is gracing the fashion pages this season without the need to reveal too much flesh. And as the seasons change it will also provide an extra layer over a long sleeved tee or jumper dress.

The second piece I came across was the Fine Merino Cardigan…
I found the silver version of this cardi and straight away I pictured wearing this on a summer evening over a strappy vest top. It would look lovely twinned with a billowy skirt or simply with a pair of jeans. It even comes in four different colours (the others are black, charcoal and midnight blue) so there’s no reason why you couldn’t find one to match any outfit!

Finally, the third ‘gem’ which I discovered and felt I needed to draw your attention to is the Koffi Bag…
This lovely bag caught my eye because I think it’s one of those styles which will go with everything. In my opinion a handbag should have the space to carry everything a lady needs for the day or night (à la Mary Poppins!) and the Koffi bag definitely ticks that box. It also has a pocket divider to keep some organisation going within the bag – something which I for one always struggle with (yes, I am one of those people who ends up emptying out the contents of their bag every time they are looking for something!). The easy-to-wear colour means that this isn’t just a seasonal bag – I think it will look great all year round.

If any of my picks catches your eye, they are all available on our website. Why not have a browse and see what other undiscovered treasures you might find :-)

Getting to know...Charlotte Cole, Human Resources Manager & Press Officer

As you might have seen in the press over the past couple of months (or perhaps noticed us mention it on Facebook and Twitter on a few occasions!), we are evolving positively as a company as we continue to grow thanks to Piper’s private equity investment and ever-increasing sales.

So I thought today I would quiz Charlotte Cole, our HR Manager and Press Officer, about the upcoming expansion and recruitment plans and, as we have delved a bit deeper with our other colleagues, I also thought it would be only fair to find out more about Charlotte herself!

1. How long have you worked for Celtic Sheepskin?

Compared with many here, it’s not long – it’ll be 3 years this summer.

2. What enticed you to join the company?

If I’m honest, at first it was a simple case of location; I lived in Newquay and I needed a short-term role to see me through the end of my flat tenancy. I handed in my notice at my previous employment with the view that I’d move to London in a few months’ time when my flat rental came to an end and Celtic Sheepskin had a fixed-term position available as a telephonist over those same couple of months. I knew a good amount about Celtic Sheepskin and so it was an easy decision to make to work for them even though I took a step down in responsibility. I was just happy to have an enjoyable job and a regular income, but as you can tell that short term fix soon became permanent!

3. HR Manager and Press Officer. What a combination! What does your role involve?

That’s very simple – both! After initially coming to the company as an Inbound Telephonist, I moved into the role of Press Officer after a couple of months. I completely loved it and all that it entailed, which for the main part still is communicating with the fashion media in all its forms, promoting Celtic Sheepskin’s products. Then last summer it became apparent that a more focused role was needed for Human Resources at Celtic Sheepskin, with the company growing and the directors and General Manager’s tasks increasing in other areas. So it started with a simple offer I gave to help out with interviews and then quickly grew into the role of Human Resources Manager. I did an honours degree in Business Studies, specialising in Human Resources at Hertfordshire University, so everyone was confident that I was qualified for the task. With 3-years management at my previous employment under my belt, I was keen to help wherever I could. I now balance the two roles, very carefully.

4. What do you most enjoy about your role?

The variety and tangible input I have with how the company develops. I may not sit on board meetings, or decide prices, or even layout new product designs, but I am very happy to say that by making the effort to speak to the media as much as I do and spend time with the staff as much as I can, I make a difference. I enjoy the simple art of communication and making a difference by taking the time to care about someone and reacting to that; whether it’s asking an editor at The Times if they’re planning to go sailing again this year or working out if a staff member could benefit from extra one-on-one time.

5. Which areas of the company are likely to need extra staffing as the company continues to expand?

At the moment the main focus is on the factory as we’re aiming to increase output by 30%. So far this year we have taken on 4 new sewers and I’ve sent out 3 more offer letters for people to start over the next couple of months. At Christmas we had 9 sewing staff so I hope that a 77% staff increase in that department this year will help the company to reach the desired target. We are working closely with a factory in Cornwall which is relocating its manufacturing abroad, so the boost in recruitment at our factory couldn’t come at a better time for Cornwall.

That said we are also recruiting at the sales and distribution end of the company with two positions vacant for Inbound Telephonists and three in our warehouse. However these are fixed-term contracts and these roles are always on the agenda this time each year to help to manage with the increase in sales in the months running up to Christmas.
Then of course there are our senior roles, but these are being coordinated between the directors and an agency, so I don’t know much to comment on those.

6. What qualities do you think make a good Celtic Sheepskin employee?

Ha! Answering this would certainly give anyone coming to an interview with us a great advantage!

The business is diverse in the areas of employment we can offer. So where a certain type of person may suit one role they may not be the ideal candidate for another. For example you wouldn’t necessarily pick someone with excellent communication skills to glue soles as that person would be much better suited to our Sales and Support team. Rather someone who enjoys an honest pay for an honest day’s work would be more likely to get the gluing role.

At the most basic level however I expect an interviewee to show an interest in the company, preferably by undertaking just a small amount of research before they arrive. If they aren’t interested to find out more about Celtic Sheepskin’s ethics of high-quality goods which care about the environment, then I can’t see how in the long run they would add any benefit to the product our customers receive. Our ethics have created Celtic Sheepskin’s culture, so let’s see if any read this blog!

7. How would you describe Celtic Sheepskin to a prospective employee?

We’ve organically grown and we truly have a heart and soul. Nothing has been scraped out and thrown away to make way for the glitz of what’s faster & better; rather what works now is because it’s been tried and tested. It’s certainly a happy company to work for and all staff enjoy their roles within that and the excitement of what the future growth will bring.

8. If you could take on a different role within the company for the day, which role would it be and why?

I already thoroughly enjoy working across different areas; HR allows me to get stuck into and learn the manufacturing and sales end of the business and all the cogs that twist and turn to make that happen. Then there’s the more glamorous PR perspective, where I get to chat with fashion editors of top magazines and newspapers and the lovely regional magazines and newspaper editors who are all just as important to get to know – and love.

But if you really want to put me on the spot, and make me answer the question to put my neck on the line and say what job role at Celtic Sheepskin I believe is better than any other then I’d have to say… mine! I love designing, planning, organising, chatting, dressing up, dressing down, meeting new people, meeting old people and generally making a difference and my job gives me all that!

9. What is your favourite outfit combination, sampling items from our current collection?

I have a lot of opportunity to play with different combinations of our clothing, so specifically looking at what’s in stock at the moment I’ll straight away pick out the High Waisted Skirt –heaven only knows why it hasn’t sold out already. It’s very flattering and a very trendy length for right now - and it’s reduced by 42%! I think it’s best to keep a top very simple with this skirt, so I would opt for the Smocked Cheesecloth Top – tucked in. Then for accessories I’ll plump for our racing green Tolvaddon Bag, to inject a little colour and if it’s a really sunny day I’d wear our Trilby Hat with this combo. Then to finish off the ensemble I’ll pick a pair of our Celt Sandals in natural.
10. Were you born and bred in Cornwall? What has kept you in the county all this time?

No. Bred, but I wasn’t born here. Although both my eldest and youngest sisters were born in Cornwall and my mum’s family is as Cornish as they come.

My parents decided to move out of the county for a couple of years and during that short period of time I came into the world (they moved back to Cornwall when I was 1 years old). I grew up in Newquay and love having all my family around me. I went away to Hertfordshire and London for 4 ½ years in my late teens/early twenties, but I soon found myself desperate to come back to the seaside. I love Cornwall and everything it can offer. I would never say that I won’t leave as who knows what’s waiting for me around the corner, but I certainly have no plans or desire to live anywhere else right now. It’s too enjoyable here.

11. Finally, what is your favourite quote which you like to live by?

There are quite a few, but I think my favourite and most used is “life’s too short…”

I’m not a patient person, so this fits very well with my personality but it also reminds me to grab every opportunity and enjoy it. Life’s not fair so you’ve got to enjoy the good times when they come along and live life to the full.

-Thank you Charlotte - some real food for thought!

You can keep informed of any job opportunities at Celtic Sheepskin by visiting the Vacancies page on our website.