She's got it wrapped up

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• Publication: The Daily Telegraph
• Date: 1999-11-26
• Author: Melanie Rickey
• Page: 26
• Language: English

Jo Gordon's 'Dr Who' scarves take some beating, says Melanie Rickey

JOINING fashion's latest club is straightforward, but becoming increasingly difficult. Benefits include instant recognition from other members— a knowing glance, a nod, or a smile as well as inquisitive, where-did-you-get-that looks from non (or wannabe) members. The only downside is the fact that you may find builders whistle the Dr Who theme at you.

The club has only two membership requirements: you must loathe pashminas, and you must be the proud owner of a long, multicoloured stripy scarf in wool or, preferably, cashmere.

Although Gap is busy cashing in on the trend with an advertising campaign featuring its metre-long. "crazy" scarf (which costs only £15. and for which there is a sizeable waiting list), the American company did not instigate the craze. That is all down to Jo Gordon.

Gordon, who was raised in the small West Lothian village of Boquhan, sighs every time she sees a Gap scarf. Her own (far superior) version in lambswool or cashmere was initially designed three years ago for a friend and then, on instinct, resurrected for this winter.

"I suppose I must take it as a compliment," she says of the similar versions that keep popping up.

Gordon is an artist-turned-milliner-turned-knitwear designer who has an uncanny knack for reworking the kind of winter warmers mothers forced their children to wear in the Seventies. Her specialities include mittens on a string, bobble hats, muffs, ponchos and, of course, scarves. They are designed for grown-ups, but have a childish quality that is nostalgic and infectious. "I grew up in Scotland and summer holidays were in the Shetlands. so I always had the need for woolly things." she says.

Jo Gordon's cashmere stripy scarves have been so popular this winter that both Liberty and Browns in London have already reordered three times (the lambswool versions are more readily available). At Liberty. demand has been such that not a single cashmere scarf has hit the shop floor (in spite of the £295 price tag). Instead. they go straight to the person at the top of the waiting list. "People probably think my scarves are just a jumble of colours knitted together, but the design process is very carefully thought through." says Gordon. who spent a week working on colour compatibility. The chosen colours were then sent to specialist knitters in Scotland. It takes one knitter a day to make two scarves.

Other companies fuelling the growth of "the stripy scarf club" are Joseph. whose £85. three-metre long, multi coloured. fringed version (Zoe Ball is a proud owner) has a matching polo neck. However. Joseph is out of stock and, sadly, no more are expected.

The menswear company Burro. whose scarves have wide stripes and muted colours. still has a selection in its Covent Garden store in London for £39. The Scottish mail order company Pedlars (01330 850400) has a Gap-like scarf for £25 and also a matching hat and jumper. So. there you have it. Twenty years ago, Dr Who and the presenters of Ploy School and Rainbow wore them. Today. they are the height of cool.

Caption: Coveted: Jo Gordon with her hand-knitted scarf

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• APA 6th ed.: Rickey, Melanie (1999-11-26). She's got it wrapped up. The Daily Telegraph p. 26.
• MLA 7th ed.: Rickey, Melanie. "She's got it wrapped up." The Daily Telegraph [add city] 1999-11-26, 26. Print.
• Chicago 15th ed.: Rickey, Melanie. "She's got it wrapped up." The Daily Telegraph, edition, sec., 1999-11-26
• Turabian: Rickey, Melanie. "She's got it wrapped up." The Daily Telegraph, 1999-11-26, section, 26 edition.
• Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=She's got it wrapped up | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/She%27s_got_it_wrapped_up | work=The Daily Telegraph | pages=26 | date=1999-11-26 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=20 May 2025 }}</ref>
• Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=She's got it wrapped up | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/She%27s_got_it_wrapped_up | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=20 May 2025}}</ref>