This week, Navygrey, opened its pop-up ‘The Wool Shop’ in London’s Notting Hill, Which is open for Wool Month from Tuesday 8th – Thursday 17th October. 17 Kensington Park Road, W11 2 EU
Navygrey takes an exciting step into creating their own bespoke yarn using Cheviot,
Masham, and Bluefaced Leicester wool sourced exclusively from British farms.
Navygrey is proud to announce the launch of its limited-edition ‘Locally Grown’ collection,
marking the brand’s debut in producing its own yarn. This exciting new collection showcases
wool exclusively sourced from British farms, featuring Cheviot, Masham, and Bluefaced
Leicester (BFL) wool.
Navygrey has collaborated with some of the UK’s finest wool experts and makers to create
two new yarns. The brand was determined to fill a gap in the market by championing the use
of British wool, delivering a product that is not only luxurious but also rooted in local
craftsmanship.
“At Navygrey, we knew there was a gap in the market for the type of wool we wanted to
use soft, durable, and authentically British,” says Rachel Carvell-Spedding, Founder of
Navygrey.
“We’ve spent years learning about our customers, and what they want is knitwear that feels
amazing while performing beautifully in everyday life. That’s exactly what we’ve achieved
with this new collection.”
A critical aspect of the project was selecting British wool varieties that are often
underutilised. Cheviot wool, for example, is in abundant supply across the UK, yet it’s rarely
considered a premium material. By blending Cheviot with BFL, renowned for its softness,
Navygrey has created a robust and versatile yarn that showcases the potential of these
British fibres.
“We wanted to take advantage of the solid supply of Cheviot wool and elevate it to a
premium product, something that isn’t done often,” Carvell-Spedding explains. “By
combining it with BFL, we’ve created a yarn that’s not only soft but durable – perfect for
everyday wear. It’s important to us to make something truly British, from local sheep to local
makers.”
In addition to creating innovative yarns, Navygrey is on a mission to educate consumers
about the nuances of British wool. Many brands label their products as ‘British wool’, but
often the wool is only spun in Britain rather than sourced from British sheep. Navygrey aims
to clarify this confusion and elevate the value of truly British wool, supporting local farmers in
the process.
“This collection is about more than just fashion – it’s about celebrating our local resources
and giving back to British land,” says Carvell-Spedding. “Wool is a natural, sustainable fibre
that keeps us warm and is right here on our doorstep. We want to highlight its beauty and
potential while helping farmers benefit from a growing demand for homegrown wool.”
Navygrey worked closely with Alan Thornber, a renowned wool expert, to develop the
Cheviot-BFL blend which will be released in the collections first drop on the 8th October.
They have partnered with the Yorkshire-based spinner Laxtons to perfect the recipe for The
Masham yarn, two undyed shades which will form a second drop, later in October.
This project marks their first bespoke yarn production, further highlighting their commitment
to British craftsmanship.
The Locally Grown collection will be showcased at Navygrey’s pop-up wool shop at the end
of October, where customers can experience firsthand the new possibilities of British wool.
With this launch, Navygrey plans to explore even more opportunities for innovation in the
world of low impact knitwear.
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