Style Guide Introducing ERIBÉ

Who are ERIBÉ?

From humble beginnings in 1986 to a multi award winning business with a global reach, the tale of ERIBÉ is weaved with an endearing spirit, one that evokes a sense of support for the underdog and a readiness to enrich your life with the vibrant colours that ERIBÉ has to offer. As a fellow business hailing from the Scottish Borders, we take pride in collaborating with ERIBÉ and supporting an integral member of the traditional textile community that our cherished Border home is renowned for. It is this rich heritage that ERIBÉ Knitwear has always pulled it’s inspiration from, drawing on skillsets passed down from generation to generation within the craft and weaving them into new and modern designs and shapes. ERIBÉ are committed to the preservation of authentic fairisle knitting, encapsulating the proud Scottish heritage that is so palpable in their designs. Drawing inspiration from the landscape around them; from the rolling hills and wild moors to the rugged mountain-scapes, blue coastlines and vibrant blooms, an ERIBÉ sweater wears like a love letter to their Scottish natural home.

Becoming ERIBÉ

The journey of becoming ERIBÉ by founder Rosemary Eribé was one of challenges, setbacks, and the resilience required to succeed in business, especially as a woman and mother. Rosemary's path was far from easy; it demanded grit, determination, and an unwavering belief in her vision even when faced with closed doors. Her pivotal experience during a 2-year gap year as a retail management apprentice in Germany, ignited her passion for natural fibre clothing and the creation of a harmonious workplace where everyone worked toward a shared goal. This crucial time in Hamburg fundamentally influenced how she operates her business today. Her love for natural textiles blossomed during this period, leading her to graduate with honours in Textile Design, with a focus on traditional knitting. However, this was only the beginning of her journey to become ERIBÉ. Armed with a new surname and the perfect namesake, Rosemary embarked on curating her first collection from her tiny flat, working around the clock and travelling up and down the country to knock on the doors of prospective buyers, even travelling to New York where she would sleep on the floor of friends' apartments.

Her first boost came from a partnership with a cashmere designer, with the jump from merino wool to the luxurious Scottish cashmere elevating her collection to new markets including Japan. In between these wins however, came many challenges including the Gulf War, inflated tariffs and sadly, the widespread decline of the textile industry of the Scottish Borders. During the 1990's and early millennium, several prominent mills faced closure due to the overwhelming forces of globalization and fierce competition from overseas manufacturing. Only a handful managed to survive this onslaught. One such survivor and another beloved brand here at Humes is William Lockie in Hawick. Lockies serves as a steadfast reminder of the once-thriving community of textile giants that used to bring employment and prosperity to the region.

Amongst this, Rosemary Eribé maintained a modest staff of only three, despite successfully competing in the same markets as world renowned luxury brands. As she watched hundreds of skilled craftspeople become redundant around her, the harsh reality was that in order to remain afloat in the economy, ERIBÉ had to bide it’s time and remain small but steady. Today, ERIBÉ has grown to new heights by expanding their workforce with a new factory in Tweedbank dubbed 'Woolly Towers' which has bolstered their ability to sell to stockists across the globe. In fact, you can now find the brand in more than 300 stores across the world, a fact that would have seemed a mere pipedream to Rosemary Eribé in her days of door to door sale pitches. In 2020, in the spirit of always adapting to market demands, they proactively set up an EU distribution centre in Poland as a response to the challenges of Brexit.

Why choose ERIBÉ?

Sustainability

At the very heart of ERIBÉ lies the importance of sustainability and the reduction of waste to maintain a slow fashion approach. Within their factory, which is itself powered by green energy, they have invested in the latest energy saving machines. It is here that they knit to order, meticulously avoiding excess product, and on the occasion they do, they repurpose leftover material in new and creative ways, such as fun, fairisle dog coats. ERIBÉ strive to minimize their impact on the environment by using natural fibres like wool and avoiding harsh, synthetic fabrics that are harmful to the planet. As experts in their field, they know how to best advise on the care of their products ensuring their longevity for years to come. They work closely with a family run spinner in Yorkshire, where they can ensure their wool is ethically sourced and moreover, they can guarantee that it meets the rigorous quality standards and level of environmental responsibility that they as a brand strive for.

The Favourite Sweater

Recent years have seen a growing trend toward never wearing the same outfit twice, a trend that is perhaps indicative of our modern culture. Unfortunately, this mindset contributes significantly to the fast fashion dilemma, leading to the unnecessary disposal of perfectly good clothing because of our own vanity and fleeting fashion trends. On the flipside, ERIBÉ believes in the beauty of ‘the favourite sweater’, shedding all negative connotations associated with wearing something regularly. ERIBÉ sweaters are created to be loved and lived in, to become character pieces in your wardrobe that you fondly pick out time and time again. ERIBÉ are staunchly against the throw away attitude of fast fashion, choosing instead to use the highest quality materials that will stand the test of time. They are passionate about creating the most vibrant colour combinations, which in addition to their intricate fairisle designs such as their ERIBÉ Alpine Sweater, make for stunning creations that feel more like art than clothing. It is this joyfulness that adds to the endearing nature of this knitwear brand, the sense that your sweater has been created for joy by joy, an authentic love and admiration for the craft from start to finish.

A passion for nourishing the future of textiles

ERIBÉ holds a profound and heartfelt passion for fostering the future of textile craftsmanship in the Scottish Borders. After surviving the turbulent decades of textile decline throughout the late Twentieth century and witnessing fellow skilled craftsman having to walk away from their cherished craft, it is no wonder ERIBÉ has a strong desire to invest in rebuilding and revitalizing this invaluable skillset within the textile homeland. Every year they take in interns from the local Heriot Watt University’s world class School of Textiles and Design and help them gain invaluable work experience which in turn helps to boost their future careers in the industry. Many of their ex-interns have since returned to work for them following graduation – a testament to Rosemary Eribé's initial vision; to create a collaborative and inspirational workplace where every individual contributes to and shares in the creative dream.

Click here to check out our new ERIBÉ collection.