It's hard to appreciate just how much work goes into the making of a Burberry scarf.
Now the London-based luxury firm has showcased (briefly) the entire process - beginning with pure cashmere harvested during molten season, which eventually becomes available as ready-made scarf at any Burberry store worldwide.
A much more visual way to understand the beauty of the craft, the Burberry video is something special. Setting the scene, the film opens with sweeping landscape views of the Scottish valleys and highlands, with sounds of running water as a river comes into shot.
To a folk-country inspired soundtrack, Burberry explains the manufacturing process in simple sentences that appear across the screen. All the while, detailed close-ups of the yarn being harvested, and then woven, dyed and washed - illustrate an incredibly long journey from field to cloth to scarf.
Among the action, scenes of traditional looms, which look to have been in use for decades, trundle away, forming luxury woven fabric as they move up and down. The looms are located in old mills in the towns of Elgin and Ayr, and it is there that Burberry sources and creates its cashmere products.
The making of Burberry scarf is a beautiful story telling of the relationship between nature and the modernisation of man.
You can watch the entire video by clicking here.
Accidental Beginnings
The story of the creation of the Burberry scarf is an unexpected one. According to fashion-lore, it was back in 1967 that the manager of Burberry's Paris store felt frustrated by monochrome palette of the khaki trench for her window displays, and decided to add some color. So she turned up the jacket cuffs and exposed the Burberry 'house check'. Customers began asking for the plaid on other items. Umbrellas were made and then the cashmere scarf. And today, the pure cashmere neckwear is one of the most purchase luxury scarves.
Future Lead
Aware of its eco-responsibilities as a brand, Burberry is looking at ways to improve its cashmere supply chain: "As a key raw material used in Burberry's heritage products, cashmere will be a focus in the coming year."
Burberry also continues its efforts to eliminate chemicals through regular testing of effluent, products and raw materials. In December last year, Burberry issued a report outlining an its investigation into the existence of hazardous chemicals - namely alkylphenols and phthalates, used in the manufacturing of its clothing.The fashion brand said it still "profiles its supply chain partners, reviews partner contracts and continues to to conducts extensive research into new manufacturing and chemical technologies."