Edinburgh fashion brand scores World Cup showcase alongside football’s oldest ball

Fashion brand Islander is taking its Harris Tweed craftsmanship to the men’s World Cup, with a bespoke collection on display in Miami alongside what is believed to be the world’s oldest football.

The Edinburgh-headquartered business has created a one-of-a-kind range of bags and footwear using the newly developed ‘Spirit of Brazil’ Harris Tweed, as Scotland prepares to face Brazil at the FIFA World Cup.

The new range features the ‘Spirit of Brazil’ tartan, created by pupils at Largs primary school. This followed their invitation to take part in a competition linked to the story of Charles William Miller, the Brazilian sportsman widely credited with helping introduce football to Brazil, whose father came from Fairlie in Ayrshire.

Using colours inspired by the Brazilian flag, the tartan celebrates the connection between Scotland and Brazil through football, culture and craft.

The collection is being displayed at the Coral Gables Museum in Miami during the tournament, helping bring Scottish design and heritage to an international audience.

Alongside the collection is what is believed to be the world’s oldest football, which dates back to the 16th century and is normally housed at The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum, in Stirling.

The ball travelled from Glasgow Airport to Miami with Caroline Mathers, director of The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum, and Faroque Hussain KPM, honorary consul of Brazil in Glasgow. For the journey, Caroline wore bespoke Islander ‘Spirit of Brazil’ footwear and carried a matching Islander mini satchel, while Faroque wore bespoke Islander ‘Spirit of Brazil’ men's footwear.

Islander now plans to develop a wider ‘Spirit of Brazil’ collection across both retail and workshop products, with the business donating 20 per cent of wholesale sales from the collection to the International Play Association Scotland, which promotes the right of children to play.

The collaboration comes as Islander continues its growth journey from Edinburgh and St Andrews to London, with a new shop opening in Covent Garden this summer.

Pei Ferguson, founder of Islander, said: "When Faroque got in touch after seeing our products and workshops on social media, it felt like a perfect fit straight away.

"We've always loved finding new ways to tell Scottish stories through design, and this project gave us the chance to do that on a global stage. The connection between Scotland and Brazil is such a fascinating one and bringing it to life through Harris Tweed felt really special.

"The world's oldest football, the tartan designed by local school pupils and the Scotland-Brazil connection all come together in a way that feels uniquely Scottish and as we ready ourselves to face Brazil, it is brilliant that Islander is playing a small part in telling that story."

Bank of Scotland has played a key role in supporting Islander’s growth, with its services cutting card-processing costs and helping to streamline payroll

Ross Penman, relationship manager at Bank of Scotland said: "This is a fantastic example of a Scottish business taking local heritage to a global audience.

"From Harris Tweed and tartan to football history, the project shines a spotlight on some of Scotland's most recognisable cultural assets. Pei and her team have built a remarkable business and we're right behind it as they continue to grow."

www.islanderuk.com