Riverweaver - Hand Weaving designed and created by Jenny Fraser

Rivermist

Rivermist is a new featherweight, handwoven shawl developed in 2002. Using fleeces of only the finest count from New Zealand kid angora goats, a unique yarn has been specially spun for Rivermist. This high quality fibre, is under one third the weight used for Riverweaver styles and is super fine while still retaining all the natural qualities of mohair:- softness, warmth, lustre and strength.

Because of the open nature of the weave a delicate, mysterious quality of ‘half hidden’ is evoked, offering the wearer something of exquisite value. The original enchantment of the old shawl, has been captured by Rivermist’s, soft, floating gossamer threads.

‘Rivermist, exquisite veils of gossamer’

The Story

The dream of Rivermist evolved from an old shawl I had woven many years ago for my mother. After she passed on, it was returned to me and worn with great pleasure. Over many years of use, the shawl had worn leaving an appealing lacy, deconstructed look. During my travels from Bond St. in London, Place de la Victoire, in Paris, Newbury Street in Boston to my home country New Zealand, people were immediately drawn and enchanted by its qualities. After many compliments I was guided by these promptings to source the country for a sample of kid mohair yarn, the weight I wanted. Only one company could help, with a small sample of 200grms of yarn. From this, a beautiful sample shawl was woven. The gut feeling said, "go".

The kid mohair Riverweaver uses normally measures 100 metres to 50grms. Rivermist yarn is 333 metres for 50grms, hence it is particularly fine and has the quality of a gossamer thread, something like that of a cobweb gently suspended in space. Because of its very fine count, the mill informed me that they only occasionally receive an order, their minimums being 250 kilos. I only wanted 25 kilos spun.

Serendipity was on my side for I was rung in January and informed an order from Australia had been placed and was ready to be spun. I took the opportunity to move and placed my order, launching Rivermist, a limited edition, handwoven range of fashion originals.