Community / A ‘pinch yourself’ moment as Fair Isle knitwear designer heads to King’s royal premiere
WHEN IT comes to a change of scenery, swapping a croft in Fair Isle for a glitzy documentary premiere at Windsor Castle has to be right up there.
That was the journey textile artist and knitwear designer Marie Bruhat recently went on after being invited to the royal premiere of Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision.
The documentary film, which takes a closer look at King Charles’ nature-themed philosophy on life, will be released via Prime Video tomorrow (6 February).
The King and Queen both attended the documentary’s premiere, as did a number of stars like Kate Winslet, Dame Judi Dench and Benedict Cumberbatch.
So how did Bruhat end up receiving what she says was the “fanciest invitation I’ve ever had”?
The invite came from the King’s Foundation, an educational charity founded by King Charles in 1990.
This year Bruhat has been involved in the foundation’s 35 under 35 network of “makers and changemakers”, brought together to mark its 35th anniversary and to advocate for change in the world.
Reflecting on her experience of the premiere, held at Windsor Castle near London last week, Bruhat said being there alongside “so many passionate and prominent figures was a real honour”.
She said it is “surprising that I don’t have bruises all over my arms from the number of times I had to pinch myself”.
The dress code was black tie or national dress, with an emphasis on ‘rewear, repair or recycle’. Having never been to a black tie event before, “I didn’t really have anything to rewear”, Bruhat, who is originally from France, said.
However she ordered an outfit from a dressmaker who makes items to order, and topped things off with a locally made lace stole.
“This one was lent to me by Rachel Hunter, who knitted it herself, a piece that likely took over 300 hours to complete,” Bruhat said.
“I was so proud to wear it and to share her extraordinary skills with anyone who laid eyes on it.
“As part of its programme, the King’s Foundation teaches six skills that appear on the red list of endangered crafts published by Heritage Crafts. Wearing Shetland lace, which is also on the red list, felt particularly fitting.”
She said documentary film explores King Charles’ “lifelong commitment to nature and sustainability, and the Harmony philosophy, which encourages us to see ourselves as part of nature, not apart from it”.
Bruhat said much of the King’s vision “resonated deeply with my life in Fair Isle, immersed in a landscape where nature is something you must respect and work with in order to survive and live in harmony”.
“Harmony, I would say, is contagious,” she added.
“I hope this film becomes a call for change for many people who, deep down, already sense that a lack of connection with nature is making them unhappy.
“The documentary screening could have felt like a celebration of an achievement, but instead there was a strong sense that this was only the beginning, a moment of inspiration to take back and act upon.
“Even if that simply means spending more time than usual walking in nature this week.”
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