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 :-)