Designer Feature- Courtney Duncan

Meet Courtney Duncan, one of the designers contributing to the upcoming Sustainable Style Charity Gala.

Introduce yourself; name, age, year in uni, degree path, a few interests.

Hello, my name is Courtney and I run lan-o-lin, a small business getting its feet off the ground selling fiber pieces. Named after the oils found in natural wools that give some products their warm and water-proof nature, lan-o-lin specialises in hand knitted garments and handwoven wall hangings. I also have future hopes to bring out knitting patterns very soon! I graduated from the University of St Andrews last summer with a degree in Geography and have moved on to work with the University as their Sustainability Coordinator. If you follow the University's sustainability socials, you will most likely be interacting with me! My interests lie in all aspects of the environment, board games, sports, and well... fiber art.

Tell me a little bit about your pieces; what they are, why you made them and how they reflect your personal style?

The piece I am showcasing is a wall hanging called "Woven Rockpools." The textures, colours and shapes you see are inspired by the marine life found in the pools of Elie and St Andrews. The pastel nature of this wall hanging makes it subtle, but an easy way to integrate warm colours into your home. I hope you love it as much as I do.

"Woven Rockpools" Wall hanging

Why did you decide to submit your pieces to the Charity Gala? What does sustainability mean to you and how is that reflected in your pieces?

I thought the Sustainable Style Charity Gala was the perfect place to show this piece because it is inspired by St Andrew's coast, but also because I believe we need to reignite appreciation for the time and skill that it takes to make the clothes we wear or the art in our homes. For sustainable fashion to exist, we need to move away from an immediate gratification approach where we buy everything that we want as soon as we see it. I think this is where slow fashion can make a comeback, where the garments are made with quality and care, and the customers buy what they truly desire because they have to sit with the idea for a long time before buying. Additionally, the customer is also getting a very special item that will last them forever, if cared for correctly. Thus, I think the concept behind handmade products is usually sustainable, not to mention the fact that 100% wool is biodegradable! 

If you are interested in seeing some of my creations and what I get up to, please take a look at https://www.instagram.com/lan_o_lin/.