Woven in Wales: Melin Tregwynt

The country of Wales is a long-time respected and highly regarded producer of crafted textiles and weaving, and Melin Tregwynt is one of the most sought-after British manufacturers, produced in a whitewashed mill that’s been in continuous use since 1841. 

Crafted in a range of textiles that speak to the seasons and nature, as well as contemporary textile designs and classic colours, Melin Tregwynt’s woollen blankets, throws and cushions are made from 100% wool, characterised by an heirloom nostalgia that today becomes a quintessential emblem of British heritage.

The 17th-century mill is clasped by a wooded valley, not far from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Family-run and with a local workforce of up to 40 in situ at the mill and shop, the Griffiths family have amazingly been weaving here for over a hundred years - Henry Griffiths first bought Melin Tregwynt in 1912, with the business running through the family ever since. Today the cloth is still woven in the old, whitewashed mill, with traditional techniques still in place such as using warps, looms and manual ‘tying on’.

A bastion of Welsh artisan industry, Melin Tregwynt is today a successful business that supplies to hotels (including patterned bedspreads at The Brecon in Adelboden, Switzerland), contributes textiles for fashion shoots with the likes of Vogue and even once crafted the largest picnic blanket in the world, which earnt Melin Tregwynt a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Melin Tregwynt’s uniquely double clothed textiles were chosen to be sold at a new Muji concept store for small artisan producers, plus you can find the Welsh weavers’ work in the Tate Britain and Tate Modern shops – a collaboration with artist Jacqueline Poncelet creating a stunning display of Welsh craftsmanship, which was an homage to the artist’s love for west Wales, named llarwydden or larch. 

The designs made on site in Pembrokeshire call on a range of Welsh heritage inspiration, some with a distinctly retro, mid-century vibe, adding to its alluring identity and crafted nature. The range Ysbryd means spirit - blankets come with traditional edging, its unique weave is inspired by the landscapes of Wales including granite and limestone. The fully reversible Bryngaer design celebrates traditional Welsh tapestry; its limited edition Calan colour is a match for Pembrokeshire’s coastline, woven in the wool from sheep that graze the Cambrian Mountains.

Allowing tradition to flourish in Pembrokeshire in Wales, producing uniquely designed throws and cushions, Melin Tregwynt keeps craft alive in an old, whitewashed mill.