Keep Scottish Bonnets Alive in Scotland

We've just lost Scotland's last Bonnet production line.

The one that's been making Traditional Scottish Headwear in Stewarton, East Ayrshire for the last 178 years. (That's a Yes. We've just lost the last production line making this quality product in Scotland, in the UK, or anywhere else in the World.)

Stewarton itself is known as ‘the Bonnet Toun’ and has been since the 1600’s, so we’re also losing the last Bonnet Maker in Bonnet Toun.

THE PLAN:

To establish a new mini factory to continue making these products in Stewarton. Where visitors to The Bonnet Factory will be able to see the hats being finished, learn about the area's history of bonnet making and buy Scottish headwear products whilst there.

We are looking for your help with immediate funding to set up this new Bonnet Factory & Shop and start training some younger workers. Urgent action is needed to preserve this craft and its skills while we still have one or two highly experienced folk (albeit semi-retired) to teach them! This will not happen without you.

We need help to preserve this important piece of Scotland’s history; win back lost export sales and keep 'Making Bonnets in Bonnet Toun'.

Now is the only chance we’re going to get to keep this truly iconic Scottish Product alive. (And thank you so much to all you wonderful folk who have already given!!!)

Gies a hand?

(Every little helps! GoFundMe starts at £5.)

Good News!!!! £ 5000 Pledged by The Incorporation of Weavers of Glasgow, 28 August 2023

https://www.bbc.co.uk/naidheachdan/fbh/65070762?at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_id=8EEDC5DA-CA74-11ED-908A-F0153AE5AB7B&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_format=link&at_link_origin=BBC_Naidheachdan&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_medium=social&at_campaign_type=owned&at_link_type=web_link&fbclid=IwAR3QsG_kI_xt3SDBvwJzq2A2vdcJFgEXCHA5bgv6NeQQB5vlOif7qkdk9ts

This heritage effort was initially being driven by House of Tartan Ltd. Scotland. Home of the World's First Tartan Database. Founded 1996. Company Registration No 03143896 which recently (Mar 24) changed ownership. The Campaign is for the meantime being managed by Phil Pass former MD of House of Tartan Ltd . If you'd like to help you can get in touch with me through them for now, because we can't publish email addresses in this space. They'll refer any messages related to the campaign to me.