Annette Sopata

Annette Sopata

1978?

Netty Sopata

English

Artisan

935

current,58.4917648473254,-6.23148173863765;

Scotland

Netty moved to the Isle of Lewis in 2006 to take up a kiltmaking apprenticeship. After two years, she started her own business and explored using locally woven Harris Tweed in her designs. This led to a number of commissions and displays, including at Norton & Sons, Savile Row, and through this contemporary kilt production for fashion designer Christopher Kane. After fifteen years of working on a self-employed basis, Netty started teaching part-time Fashion Design at the local higher education college. Since then, she has continued her kiltmaking and garment design business, but on a reduced scale, whilst also fulfilling the role of board member with Applied Arts Scotland, project managing national and international craft-focused projects, and, recently, becoming editor of the community newspaper – Fios. An area Netty has developed over the past twenty years is usung the wool form her families flock of Hebridean Sheep to be washed, cardded and spun in to weaving yarn at Uist Wool. This yarn has then been woven into Harris Tweed by a local weaver.

AAS_PR_03

2306

instagram,https://www.instagram.com/diggorybrown/;

07881 273 966

fibre and textile crafts

Served a traditional apprenticeship and then adapted the skills to develop Harris Tweed kilts. Harris Tweed is heavier than the traditional tartan cloth used to make kilts.

Yes, through evening classes at the local arts centre.

incomer

Traditional hand-tailoring techniques applied to kilt-making: measurement, pleat calculations, chalking-out, hand sewing, and steam pressing.

Moved in 2006 to commence a kiltmaking apprenticeship in Stornoway

Harris Tweed. Leather (for straps) and brass, other metals for buckles.

Local Harris Tweed mills

Donates them to local higher education college

Calking out (to mark the pleats and kilt pattern); hand sewing (using a thimble); steam pressing (to set the pleats).

Thimble, measuring tape (inches), pattern master (straight edge ruler to mark out the pleats). Steam Iron and pressing table. Needle and scissors.

Tape and thimble belonged to her grandmother, who was a home-based seamstress in London.

Electricity for lighting and the steam press. Peat for a heating stove in the studio.

Cut-away' segments of cloth are donated to the local college for students to use in mood boards, etc.

Yes. The upstairs area of her home is a dedicated studio space.

Handtailored kilts and contemproray garments

For sale

The kiltmaking service is no longer advertised, and commissions are completed on a word-of-mouth basis only.

Bespoke one-to-one orders

Only for kilts

Locally based clients for repairs and alterations. Visitors to the Hebrides who have a connection to the location and/or want to have something created for them that resonates with the location.

Harris Tweed label

Netty used to display work and take orders at the local music festival: HebCelt. This four-day festival attracts the perfect target market for bespoke kilts. The tourists at this event are from a range of national and international locations.

Applied Arts Scotland

Outwith the HebCelt festival, accessing physical events to display and take orders was not cost-efficient due to being located on an island.

Habost, Port of Ness, Isle of Lewis