Black Isle designer's poignant 'full circle' moment with special design for King Charles III
A BLACK Isle designer given a boost at the start of her career by a charity overseen by King Charles was delighted to return the favour last week.
And in a typically busy week for the in-demand designer, she also rubbed shoulders with racing royalty at a memorable high-profile event.
When Siobhan Mackenzie was commissioned to produce a bespoke scarf to commemorate King Charles III's recent visit to the Nigg yard in Easter Ross, it was a poignant moment for a designer who now has a global profile.
For the business bearing her name, which she has so successfully built up over the past few years, was founded with support from The Princess Trust.
The charity founded by the then Prince Charles back in 1976 aims to help young people get into work, education, training and volunteering.
The former Fortrose Academy pupil turned to the programme to hone her business skills and take her idea to the next level.
She has since gone on to form her own company whose bespoke tartan kilts have been seen and admired around the world. One of her creations was worn by Nadia El-Nakla, the wife of First Minister Humza Yousaf, at the King's Westminster Abbey coronation earlier this year.
Earlier this year, she was invited to 10 Downing Street to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his businesswoman wife, Akshata Murty, as part of a Burns night event showcasing the best of Scottish fashion, culture and cuisine. Miss Mackenzie, who also designed Team Scotland's outfits for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, more recently rubbed shoulders with racing royalty, Sir Jackie Stewart as a guest at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo where he was raising funds and awareness for his charity, Race Against Dementia.
Miss Mackenzie said of the scarf: "Global reached out to ask if I could do it, which of-course I was thrilled to do, because my business was supported by the Prince's Trust upon inception. It felt like a full circle moment to get to design for King Charles and be a success story of the Trust."
The scarf incorporates the Prince Charles Edward Stewart tartan and is illustrated with a thistle and leaves border to reflect His Majesty’s love of nature.
She said described as a poignant moment for her personally.
Of her meeting with Sir Jackie at the Edinburgh Military tattoo, she said: "It was a phenomenal show and it was an honour to be hosted by such a legendary gentleman – and a gentleman he was, incredibly gracious to all there. The Military Tattoo was supporting his charity on the evening."
