BLANKET COVERAGE: ROAM

“WE LOVE the idea of blankets,” says Sonia Ambrosano, one half of deluxe textile outfit, Roam. “Our small terraced cottage dates back to the late 1700s and as such is a little bit draughty in the middle of winter. Come to think of it, probably summer too - we live in Scotland! And so it’s a very comforting and natural feeling to be wrapped up in a super soft and warm blanket.”

But Sonia and her partner in life and business, Lachlan Munro, hadn’t been able to find anything that “we would prefer: bold, decorative patterns that would be an easy way to add character to rooms when needed.”

And so the ex-Scottish College of Textiles graduate (Sonia), and the ex-Royal College of Art grad (Lachlan), bought some industrial knitting machinery, found Grahame, their programmer / technician, with whom Sonia had previously worked at Ballantyne cashmere, and their line of super-modern, graphic, and, yes, baby, cashmere blankets was born.

Their inspirations for the adult line, which is shortly to launch a lighter weight travel range, was taken from traditional Hawaiian quilts, exotic nature, and a love of travel, which the duo admit is a recurring theme: “Sonia’s father is Italian, but grew up in Egypt,” says Lachlan. Adds Sonia: “Lachlan’s great, great grandfather was shipwrecked on a cannibalistic island in the South Seas and lived to tell the tale!” Plus, say the duo, “of course we’re immersed in rolling Scottish countryside and one cannot help but be inspired by it. Things come together in a playful way. Or at least we hope they do.”

As for the baby blankets, the couple is surrounded by nieces and nephews who have acted as the inspiration for the bird and animal motifs, each of which can be personalised, and is made to order. The idea says Sonia, is that “we’re creating a contemporary heirloom.”

“There is a huge textile heritage in the Scottish Borders dating back hundreds of years,” continues Lachlan. “The local water softness was an important factor for finishing natural fibres…it still is. The history is rich with industry and innovation and still continues to this day, although it’s a fraction of the size it was. For example, all our blankets are washed at the Barrie factory by Jim who is the gentleman who supervises the washing of the most luxurious cashmere garments in the industry to the most stringent levels. We hope we are doing a little bit to continue the story.”

*Roam baby blankets, from £199 - £275, from Roam’s online shop: www.studioroam.co.uk