‘Time spent outdoors seems necessary now, like therapy’ MY
THE DESIGNER IS COPING WITH ISOLATION BY CYCLING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AND BIRD WATCHING
SAVILE Row designer Patrick Grant ma may be known for being a judge on comfort TV show Sewing Bee, but away from work he can be found cycling and bird watching. Patrick, 48, has also been working with BMW on the revival of the Sunday drive.
Has your routine changed?
I still get up and go to work every day, and have been working pretty long days. Before lockdown, my weeks were unpredictable. I could be anywhere doing anything. Now, I come to the factory in Blackburn every day. No events, no dinners, no shows to go to. Now my routine is just that, routine. At the weekends I like to get into the countryside for a walk, a cycle, or a drive. Time spent outdoors seems more necessary now, like therapy.
What would surprise people about your life now?
I’ve got into bird watching. I’ve made a bird table out of an old bits of tree stump. I spend quite a lot of time just sitting quietly listening to music and watching the bird action through the French windows. The other day I had eight long-tailed tits at the feeder and my first goldfinch. I find the small joys in lockdown.
Picked up any odd habits?
I’ve taken to Sunday driving, when permitted. I’ll plan a route, make a packed lunch, create a playlist and go and drive somewhere just for the sake of spending quiet time passing serenely through the beautiful scenery of the Bowland Fells, or the Dales or the West Pennines.
Any positives you’ve had recently?
PATRICK GRANT
The Great British Sewing Bee moved to BBC1 and we had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the show last Spring. g It seemed like its gentleness and d celebratory spirit t really struck a chord during uring lockdown. We managed to film another series in September and October, it was great fun to hang out with Joe, Esme and our r fantastic crew and nd a dozen new contestants.
Are you doingg more or less sewing these days?
During lockdown, I started an initiative called ‘The Big Community Sew’ which brought together sewers from across the UK and taught them how to make reusable face coverings for their community. Together we’ve made over a million reusable face coverings and have more than 100,000 sewing volunteers. In fact, we’ve just turned this initiative into a charity that will carry on doing volunteer sewing for health and social care providers once the pandemic is over, making things such as incubator co covers ers or cloth bags for bereaved relatives.
How do you exercise?
I’m either cycling outdoors if the weather is OK. I’ll happily go in the cold, it was -8 with the wind chill the other day. But if it’s pouring I’ll sit on the turbo in front of the tv.
What can we learn from lockdow lockdown?
We m may have learnt that we can live wit without buying so m much stuff. For a lo long time we’ve ki kidded ourselves in into thinking that go going out and bu buying lots is going to m make us happy but t that’s not the case. Buying B one item of real quali quality, something made from gre great materials, made with care by people who are treated well, that will last, that we can cherish and repair and pass on. That gives us lasting pleasure. It’s the principle my Community Clothing brand was built on.
What’s the first thing you’ll do when this is all over?
Going back to a favourite restaurant, somewhere fantastic, with all of my friends.
■ discover.bmw.co.uk/sunday-drive