(Mark Hogarth)
There's a famous quote: "you have to travel the world to appreciate what you have at home". For me, I've never really appreciated the colours that we have in this country.
(Anna Freemantle-Zee)
I'm not from here, but in terms of textile and fashion, It took me three seconds to see what absolute magic is available and the talent that's here.
(Mark Hogarth)
The Borders is one of the most underrated parts of Scotland. This landscape of river, of rolling hills, a wonderful literary history, with Sir Walter Scott, James Hogg. If you work in the creative industries in rural Scotland you have a completely different perspective on life. And, in my opinion, you've got one of the best textiles regions in the world. But it's the interaction of the people with the cloth that gives you a character.
(Anna Freemantle-Zee)
Having visited Galashiels, the Heriot-Watt University, and what they're doing, it's such a fast moving industry. But they teach their textile and design students the proper traditional way of looking at how to design fabrics, even though they also look at new technology.
(Mark Hogarth)
For me the key word is pioneering, because the word 'fashion' is almost synonymous with the word 'new'. You've got to captivate what is new, but not at the expense of your own traditions.
(Anna Freemantle-Zee)
I think there's a stirring going on and I think somehow that's been picked up by youngsters. There's a real brave approach to the design.
(Mark Hogarth)
I think Scottish people are driven by a pride in producing textiles of a very, very high calibre. It's about now, and how we can do it better. I don’t think it's an accident at all that we do have so many incredible designers, all from Scotland, operating on the international scale. They are buoyed by the traditions and heritage of Scotland, but they have an ability to fuse that with what's happening in the wider world.