TERRI LAURA MALCOLMSON

The Malcolmsons are a family of Fair Isle knitters based on Shetland, and Wilma Malcolmson is perhaps the most well known, thanks to her successful knitwear company Shetland Designer. Her granddaughter Terri Laura is following in Wilma’s footsteps, having established her own design brand and proving herself to be an emerging talent to watch.

Fair Isle knitting has been passed down in Terri Laura’s family for many generations, and the motifs she uses now have been handed down from her grandmother or great-grandmother. “After growing up watching my grandmother develop her business and design portfolio, I was so excited to get to play with the colours myself,” Terri Laura recalls.

She learnt to knit at primary school on Shetland at the age of eight, while picking up more advanced techniques from her granny Wilma. “I started making things I wanted to wear, then making things as gifts, then accepting orders from family and friends.”

Her influences are varied, and include interior decor, art, and photography, but she takes much inspiration

from the people she designs for, and the colours they like to wear.

At such a young age, Terri Laura has achieved so much already; giving the opening speech at Scandinavia’s largest wool festival in May; building her own business; being asked to judge a young enterprise competition; and speaking at a local leadership event. We look forward to watching how her design career progresses.

TERRI LAURA'S TIP:

“My top tip is to get creative! Try out new techniques and styles regularly, and don’t be afraid to get it wrong the first time.”