Could this be the new, must-have fashion accessory which will help to promote Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign?
Students at Pembrokeshire College in Haverfordwest, Wales, have designed and produced a very fashionable ladies’ scarf, with all proceeds going to charity.
Mary Adams was the inspiration behind the idea.
She explained: “We were asked to form a line of honour at the funeral of a fellow Rotarian.
“All of our fellow male Rotarians wore their Rotary ties, but there was nothing for the women which made us instantly recognisable as Rotarians. So, I thought, let’s do something about it.”
Both students have shown talent and design flare and we are extremely proud of the two former students at the college. It really is lovely to see the final product.”
Mary set a challenge to a group of textile and graphic students at Pembrokeshire College after meeting the then Principal, Sharron Lusher, and Head of Facilities, Cath Brookes. The brief was to design and produce the scarf which was affordable to Rotarians.
The winning design was from Mia Hewitson-Jones, with graphic expertise from Sam Stables.
Mary revealed that they had hoped to produce the scarf in the UK, but the most competitive cost was a steep £50.
“So we hit a huge stumbling block until one of our members, John Hughes, was visiting his daughter in Shanghai,” explained Mary. “He paced the streets until he found someone to produce it.
“He came home, we got the design, it was emailed to Jenny Wang at ‘We Do Right Silk’ in Shanghai.
“But then we had to get it approved by Rotary International before production could commence.
“This took a long time, and we were grateful for the help from Jannine Birtwistle from the End Polio Now shop in Guernsey. She advised how to fill out the paperwork to obtain our licence to sell the scarves. And three years later we placed the order!”
The scarves are now on sale and were recently modelled by Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland President, Donna Wallbank.
Sharron Lusher, who is now Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, said: “It’s a huge achievement for the college students design a scarf for Rotarians in the UK.
“Both students have shown talent and design flare and we are extremely proud of the two former students at the college. It really is lovely to see the final product.”
The scarves cost £20 with all proceeds going to End Polio Now. To buy a scarf visit the website.
