Its is a truism that great adversity often leads to great art. Or in the case of Josh and Lisa Robinson, a great idea for a social enterprise based on harnessing the power of art for a charitable purpose.
The couple have just launched Inigo Scout, a luxury textile company, with a collection of artist-designed "blankets with a soul". The company is named after their twins Inigo and Scout who were born prematurely in 2014 and spent two months in intensive care.
“I was sitting in a grey, high tech hospital unit and saw this colourful box of locally knitted blankets in the corner and my brain started ticking,” says Josh Robinson, “When Inigo and Scout came through their tough early days, Lisa and I were determined to give something back and struck upon the idea of using blankets as a canvas for art and to bring warmth and comfort to children less fortunate than our own.”
The brand is following the "one for one" ethos of the American fashion brand Toms (each pair of shoes purchased is matched with a pair of shoes for a child in need) and "championing it in the luxury sector". For each Inigo Scout blanket purchased, 10 disadvantaged children are given blankets of their own, with the help of charity partner Knit For Peace. These blankets are created by men and women living in South Africa’s Cape Flats who are taught and paid to knit with funding from Inigo Scout.
“It has been a two year journey,” says Robinson, “We were new to textiles let alone production. We travelled up and down the country learning about wool, weaving and different types of loom. In the end we settled on working with Johnstons of Elgin because they’re the best at what they do.”
The plush blankets for sale are woven in Johnstons’ mill in Scotland and designs by three artists have been produced in a limited edition run of 60.
“The idea is that they can be statement piece of art that can be hung on the wall,” adds Robinson, “It’s a fun canvas to play with. The artists had to think about the blankets as flat surfaces and also what would happen to the design when they were folded and crumpled.”
“Selvedge” by Vietnamese artist Kimvi Nguyen was inspired by the warp and weft of Japanese denim; “Shore” by British artist Tim Robinson features waves lapping on the pebbly Aldeburgh coast where the artist has a studio; and “Microscopic” by fellow Brit Tim Fishlock is based on the appearance of wool fibres viewed through a microscope. Each is beautiful and although Robinson is quick to defend the £1,100 price tag pointing to the quality and "social benefits that happen after the event of purchase".
