We’re world’s most unlikely supermodels In Vogue... vegan family of 8 who buy clothes in charity shops and don’t have inside loo
THEY are the most unfashionable of fashion supermodels.
Chosen to star in a glamorous new advertising campaign, six members of a Scottish family are about to feature in glossy magazines worldwide.
Images of Sharon Low and her children sporting the latest Pringle designs will appear in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, i-D and Esquire.
Yet despite their role in such a highprofile campaign, the Lows are definitely not your standard models.
Rather than hanging out in New York, Paris or Milan, they are likely to be found in the far North of Scotland, in the draughty converted church they call home. Instead of dressing in Versace, Gucci or Chanel, they use charity shops.
There are certainly none of the stellar fees demanded by models such as Miranda Kerr or Cara Delevingne.
Not only did the Lows offer their modelling services free, they pride
‘So cosmopolitan and so accepting’
themselves on feeding their entire family of eight for only £100 a week.
Pringle’s new autumn campaign features 46-year-old Mrs Low and five of her children – Beau, Momo, Mia, Sunny and River.
Husband David, 56, and 18-year-old son Zia were not included in the advert – although Zia has previously done some modelling work.
Shot on location in the countryside near Tain in Ross-shire, the images for the advert show the Lows dressed in woollen designs in earthy colours and accentuate the slender physiques and flowing hair that are the family’s trademark.
Mrs Low said: ‘It was a great experience and lovely to be pampered for a day. We were a little bit stuck at first, not knowing a thing about fashion and not having a clue about that.
‘The people involved were lovely and friendly, so open-minded towards us and towards this area; it was just so nice to meet people who were so cosmopolitan and so accepting.’
Despite their starring role, the Lows weren’t paid – and didn’t even get to keep the clothes they modelled. Mr Low said: ‘They are things we could never afford because we live out of charity shops. If I had money, I would get Sharon all those beautiful clothes. However, we usually find nice things at the charity shop – good quality clothes for only a few pounds.’
The family live a consciously alternative lifestyle. Home is a converted church near Tain, shared with ten ducks, a dog, a rabbit and two Shetland ponies. The building boasts an indoor
trampoline and a padded ‘combat zone’ for judo – but no inside toilet due to a row over drainage with Highland Council, meaning they have to use an outside Portaloo.
Mr Low said: ‘We are a homeschooling, vegan family of eight, residing in an old, semi-derelict church amidst the agrarian wilderness of Scotland.
‘We live entirely out of charity shops – which means more money for educational resources, art materials and music lessons.’
Mr and Mrs Low have chosen mostly to home school their children – with lessons taking place in a large canvas tent full of pictures, books and worksheets within the church.
Mrs Low said: ‘I teach English and a bit of the sciences but David comes in and teaches the higher sciences, chemistry and also handles maths.’
The family’s home-schooling regime has produced impressive results. Son Beau, 20, was taught at home before winning a scholarship to Gordonstoun. He now studies English at Aberdeen University.
Zia, 18, is studying medicine at the University of St Andrews and Momo, who is only 16, studies artificial intelligence and mathematics at Edinburgh University.
Sunny and River, aged 11 and six, are both taught at home, although Mia, 13, has chosen to attend the local school.
The Lows are keen on art and make their own jewellery, as well as painting large abstract canvasses. They eat an entirely vegan diet, managing to keep their weekly food bill under £100 by having produce delivered in bulk.
Although they acknowledge their lifestyle makes them an object of curiosity in the area, it was their eccentricity that helped them win the modelling gig for Pringle.
The images for the advert were taken by up-and-coming photographer Harley Weir. Mr Low, who suffers from an inability to absorb nutrients and arthritis of the spine, said: ‘Harley is the niece of a guy that came to do some work for us. She happened to ask if he knew any eccentric people in this area and he said he knew of a whole family.’
The photographer then approached the Lows about working with them on the shoot.
Mr Low said: ‘We appreciate beauty in many things: clothes, literature and music. We appreciate the beauty in the Pringle designs and the work that they put into their clothes.’
Pringle of Scotland was established in 1815 in the Borders, originally producing hosiery and underwear, before moving into knitwear. In the 20th century the company became famous for its diamond-pattern Argyle designs which became popular with celebrities and screen stars including Jean Simmons, Brigitte Bardot and Grace Kelly.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, leisure and sportswear played a key role for the Pringle brand, which sponsored such top British golfers as Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie.
In recent years, Pringle has become an international luxury fashion retailer. Its campaigns have featured actress Tilda Swinton and model Stella Tennant.
The firm asked Miss Weir to shoot the latest campaign, hoping to produce ‘an honest and authentic portrayal of the 200-year-old brand in its home’.
Womenswear design director Fran Stringer said: ‘For me, it was about taking the shoot back to basics to allow the clothes and landscape to speak for themselves. We wanted to capture a moment rather than orchestrate a shoot.’
‘We appreciate beauty in many things’