My Process
Each scarf design starts as pen and paper, where I delight in creating intricate imagery from my own photographs, book collection, or my own imagination. Often working in a ‘collage’ style, I then bring together my drawings digitally to create compostitions that tell stories both personal and from traditional folklore. Colour combinations are worked on tirelessly until the colours feel fresh but also will be striking and flattering to wear. Scarves are then printed digitally in Scotland, before being posted back to me to be hemmed and finished in my own studio at Deemouth Artist Studios in Aberdeen. I find such joy in creating wearable art works from my designs and hope that these scarves will become part of the wearer’s stories and journeys.
My Story
I studied printed textile design at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen, graduating in 2008. In my graduate year I won a national competition, run by Texprint UK, to design a scarf inspired by my Art College. This took me to a weeks symposium in Como, Italy, and a subsequent placement working in a print studio there. Inspired by this experience, on my return to Aberdeen I got working on a small collection of silk scarves, which I began selling through small boutiques and galleries, including a new concept store at the time, Wolf and Badger in Notting Hill London. And that really was the start of Helen Ruth Scarves! I’ve since continued to grow my brand organically, with scarves being sent to new homes all over the world, and working on exciting collaborations with big organisations including Glenfiddich Whisky, The Braemar Highland Games Centre, and The National Trust for Scotland
My Values
Our products are all proudly designed, printed and finished in Scotland, with some hand-finishing carried out in England. I am passionate about working within a ‘slow-fashion’ ethos, focusing on ethical clothing production. Scarves are printed in small batches allowing me to be responsive to demand, and I format my designs to get maximum use out of the precious silk and wool cloth to minimise waste. I don’t produce seasonal collections, nor follow trends, rather create timeless wearable art works that will be treasured in your wardrobe for years to come, and maybe even passed on to future generations to enjoy.