Posts Tagged ‘sirri’
A new independent shop and online business has opened in Lichfield and it’s a UK first. Faroe Born sells handmade clothing and jewellery plus Sirri Wool from the Faroe Islands, the only business of its kind in the UK, only the second in Europe.
With a little help from the team at Townhouse it was opened by the Head of the Faroese Government in the UK Jóannes V. Hansen, who is making his first trip to the Midlands and Lichfield. As part of the proceedings, Jóannes also made a special visit to the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. He laid a wreath at the MN Sundial in respect of the 200+ islanders who lost their lives during World War Two assisting the British and their Allies.
Laying a wreath at the National Memorial Arboretum
The ‘friendly’ British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II, also known as “Operation Valentine”, was implemented in 1940 immediately following the German invasion of Denmark and Norway. It was to protect the islands, preempt a German invasion via the North and to act as a base to support the North Atlantic fleet. 8000 servicemen and women built roads and infrastructure and Faroese fishing vessels harvested the local sea and transported their catch to the UK. Indeed over 1/5 of all fish during WWII was from the area and Churchill is reported as having stated: “that what that small nation has done in supplying the British housewife with fish for her larder, will never be forgotten”.
The Faroe Islands received occasional attacks by the German Luftwaffe, but a full-scale invasion was never attempted. However, more than 200 Faroese seamen lost their lives at sea during World War II, mostly due to the mines and Naval attacks. A monument to their memory stands in the capital Tórshavn‘s municipal park.
Following the liberation of Denmark and the end of World War II in Europe, the occupation was terminated in May 1945 and the last British soldiers left in the September. For a video of this story visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0k1EVCHP2g and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxWZz38p7ow
Ian Bourne, Managing Director of Faroe Born said: “I am delighted that Jóannes made such a big effort to celebrate our little shop. I also feel humbled that he officially visited my home town and also visited the National Memorial Arboretum in nearby Alrewas to pay his respects to all those who lost their lives helping the British during World War Two. The islands maybe nearly 700 miles away from Lichfield, but I hope Faroe Born will help promote this wonderful, and little known isles who made many sacrifices for our country.”
A flypast over the National Arboretum after the wreath laying
“Torben Nielsen, business partner to Ian and a Faroe Islander said: “I’m very proud to see the first Faroese shop in the UK. We are a very small but passionate and industrious island and I hope our Lichfield business is the first of many Faroe Born throughout the UK providing the people of the United Kingdom and beyond with products of the highest quality.”
Able to keep you stylishly toasty from top to toe Faroe Born stock Sirri Wool garments plus woollen yarn for those wanting to create their own designs. Part of the Sirri appeal is that no two products are alike. Each item is made using traditional Faroese techniques and organic, dye-free wool. The sheep are sheered in their natural habitat, not indoors or in pens and, as local law states that only 70,000 sheep are allowed on the Faroe Islands at any one time, production numbers are limited.
Mikkalina Glass creates hand-blown jewellery, ornaments and sculptures in Tórshavn. From necklaces to fruit bowls, from children’s toys to condiment sets Mikkalina is a well-known artist in the Faroes and is now exclusively stocked in the UK by Faroe Born.
Leading Faroese designer Beinta Poulsen is the lady behind Soul Made. Using Faroese wool in all her collections, Soul Made is a range of high quality ladies dresses and garments, with clean and simple designs – a perfect fit for the classical wardrobe.
Faroe Born have been visited by Faroese people living in the UK is receiving orders from outside the UK and has actually mailed goods back to Scandinavia
Faroese Fast Facts:
- Sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark, situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Norway and Iceland.
- 18 islands in the group
- Total area 540 sq m
- 2010 population of almost 50,000 people.
- 70,000 sheep!!!
- Birmingham to Faroe Islands – 680 miles
- Shetland Islands to Faroe islands – 177 miles
- Voted the World’s “most authentic, unspoiled, and likely to remain so” islands by National Geographic Traveller Magazine
We are delighted to announce we have been appointed by Lichfield-based wool and knitwear importer Faroe Born.
Faroe Born, a brand new, family-owned company will be importing and retailing Sirri Wool products from the Faroe Islands, the first outlet of its kind in the UK. Sirri Wool produces woollen garments such as jumpers and scarfs using traditional Faroese techniques using organic, dye-free wool. The wool is naturally water resistant and wind proof whilst remaining soft, warm and dry.
Faroe Born will be retailing online and from a brand new shop at the Heart Of The Country Shopping Village, near Lichfield. Townhouse has been tasked with publicity for both online and offline sales and to position the ‘brand’ as quality and fashionable
Ian Bourne, Managing Director of Faroe Born said: “Townhouse were recommended to me and I was impressed with not only their creativity, but their focus and finally passion for my business. I’m looking forward to working with them.”
Julian Fisher, Townhouse Communications Director said: “It’s always nice to have a recommendation and I’m delighted that Lichfield is having another independent shop.”
