Rowan launches Fine Art sock yarn
- 21 May 2013
Rowan yarns, part of world leading industrial thread and consumer textile crafts business, Coats plc, has launched their first sock yarn. Available in eight stunning shades, the yarn will be manufactured using the fascinating and increasingly popular hand painting method.
Sourced from Cape Mohair Spinners in South Africa, the yarn is painted by the team at Lance and Ines Khoury’s hand painting department, which takes enormous pride in employing individuals from some of the poorest and most marginalised sections of the community. One of their goals is to create opportunities for growth and development, something Rowan is extremely proud to support. As a result of the increase in production needs following Rowan’s interest in the yarn, the company has relocated to larger premises and taken on more staff.
The hand painting process is quite a complex one, and requires practice to achieve the correct technique. Each hank of yarn is laid out and then marked with dimensions according to the project. The dye is then applied using sponges - each yarn requires a specific technique according to how the composition absorbs the dye. The hanks are then steamed to set the colour, rinsed, softened, and finally dried.
Each 100g hank is an exquisite blend of 45% wool, 20% mohair, 25% polyamide for added durability and a luxurious 10% silk. What’s more, only one of these hanks is required to knit a pair of socks. Accessory designs will also fit perfectly with the yarn composition, creating flawless shawl and shrug designs with outstanding stitch definition.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Kristina Blissett, Communications Manager, kristina.blissett@coats.com
T +44 208 210 5084, M +44 7714 539 887
About Coats
With a rich heritage dating back to the 1750s, Coats is the world's leading industrial thread and consumer textile crafts business, at home in more than 70 countries, employing 20,000 people across six continents. Revenues in 2012 were US$1.7bn.
Our well-known brands and strong relationships with customers and consumers mean our products and services meet current and future needs. Our company-wide understanding of our business partners and consumers, coupled with the deep expertise of our people, builds trust and certainty.
Coats’ pioneering history and innovative culture ensure the company continues leading the way around the world: providing complementary and value added products and services to the apparel and footwear industries; extending the crafts offer into new markets and online; and applying innovative techniques to develop products in new areas such as tracer threads, aramids and fibre optics.
- One in five garments on the planet is held together using Coats’ thread
- 75 million car airbags are made using Coats’ thread every year
- Coats produces enough yarn to knit 65 million scarves a year
- In three and a half hours, Coats makes enough thread to go to the moon and back
- 300 million pairs of shoes are made every year using Coats’ thread
- One million teabags using Coats’ thread are brewed every 10 minutes
- Thousands of surgical operations take place every day using Coats’ thread
- Thomas Edison used Coats’ thread in 1879 to invent the light bulb
- Coats produces enough thread to reach around the Equator every 11 minutes
- Coats is the second largest and fastest growing global zip manufacturer
About Rowan
In 1996 Rowan Yarns was acquired by Coats Crafts. Rowan is an internationally renowned handknitting company, whose reputation for inspirational and creative handknit design is unsurpassed. Rowan distributes its products throughout the world. Yarns, magazines and dedicated yarn brochures are available from independent and national retailers as well as department stores.
To find out more about Coats visit www.coats.com
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