Explore the Welsh village that’s a hit with the fashion set

‘i wanted to go somewhere really grounded and make the women feel courageous and heroic,’ Sarah Burton said backstage at the Alexander Mcqueen autumn/winter ’20 catwalk show. That somewhere was Wales, in particular St Fagans village and its National Museum of History. The brand’s creative director took her team on a field trip to the museum, made up of historic buildings, from thatched cottages to water mills, foraged from all over Wales and rebuilt in pretty parkland. ‘We were inspired by [Wales’] artistic and poetic heritage, by its folklore and the soul of its craft,’ said Burton. I grew up near St Fagans and it’s a place I know well. I understand why Burton and her team found it so inspiring. St Fagans captivates with its charming setting but it also brings history to life. For me, it’s a reminder of traditions that reach back through the generations and which give me a sense of who I am, and it was interesting to see my family’s customs referenced in a number of the pieces in the Mcqueen collection. The one-shouldered blanket dresses, for instance, were inspired by the way men and women carried babies in shawls wrapped over their shoulder, leaving their hands free to work – something my grandmother and my mother both did, my mother ‘getting things done’ while I, and later my siblings, slept snuggled against her. The fashion team also saw displays of Welsh costume worn in the 19th century, a version of which I wore every year at primary school, and that little girls still wear to celebrate St David’s Day. Both the colour palette and fabrics (red, black and white checked wool) of the look’s long skirts and capes run through the A/W range.

Welsh crafts, such as quilting, patchwork and wood carving, also inspired the collection. The intricate designs of lovespoons, carved from a single piece of wood and engraved with symbols such as hearts for a loved one (my godmother had one made for me when I was born), can be seen in guipure lace and beaded embroidery.

Visiting St Fagans, it is easy to see why Burton described the resulting collection as ‘a love letter to women and to families, colleagues and friends’. As she discovered, underpinning many Welsh traditions is a strength of character, along with a sense of togetherness and being there for others. Although the collection was created before the pandemic, what could be more apt for these strange times?