Design/life: William McNutt, Managing Director, McNutt of Donegal

The company has a long history of weaving wool, and over the past 20 years we have been weaving premium Irish linen fabric, says William McNutt.

Sat, 11 Mar, 2017 - 00:00

Aileen Lee

What’s your background?

My father and mother launched McNutt of Donegal in 1953. The business grew rapidly, winning the contract to provide the Aer Lingus uniform in the 1960s.

In the early 1970s, the business moved away from hand-weaving tweed and into power looms. It was during this decade that Japanese designer Kenzo discovered tweed and our HQ here in Downings.

My first job in the company was to learn some basic French to communicate with Kenzo’s assistant. I have been in the weaving industry ever since.

First in production and then I later moved onto sales and product design. I’m now overseeing all aspects of the business.

A look inside the McNutt of Donegal Gift Shop in Downings, home to a wide selection of premium 100% woollen products including blankets and throws, baby blankets, knee wraps, and fashion accessories.

What’s a typical work day like for you?

I start the day making sure everyone knows what the plan is for the day.

We have increased our number of stockists by 28% in the past 12 months, so the level of production has increased considerably.

Then, it’s time to catch up on emails from our stockists around the world.

By midday, I’m working with our textile designers on product research and development and by mid-afternoon, it’s time to review progress on the production front and order fulfilment, and start planning the next day.

Tell us about a recent project or design you have worked on?

The company has a long history of weaving wool, and over the past 20 years we have been weaving premium Irish linen fabric.

We really wanted to put these two diverse traditions together. The concept was to create a two-sided throw — wool on one side and Irish linen on the other.

The supersoft lambswool range in Ombre designed by the McNutt team for 2017. RRP €99.95.

The challenge was to manage this while dealing with the different shrinkage properties of each fibre. To be honest, the first few attempts went in the bin, so we were delighted when we reached a successful conclusion.

We exhibited this new AW 17 product design at Showcase in Dublin and in the UK. The overall response has been fantastic.

What’s the McNutt design style?

Our style is a fusion of modern Ireland and Scandinavian aesthetics — solid bright colours, premium quality fabrics, and classic neutrals.

What/who inspires your work?

Our dramatic coastal surroundings are a constant source of inspiration.

Our autumn/winter ’16 collection featured a vibrant colour palette, inspired by the Northern Lights that lit up the Donegal skies in early 2016, while our new spring/summer 2017 collection celebrates the carefree summer days we enjoyed as children on the beach.

New SS17 collection from McNutt which was inspired by childhood summer holidays by the seaside.

What’s your favourite trend at the moment?

Myself and the team are big fans of the ombre look. Our spring/summer offering features beautiful ombre throws and scarves, woven from the softest lambswool.

What’s your most treasured possession?

I’ve always been a big fan of the motorsport circuit so it has to be a very tired, clapped-out rally car that resides in my garage.

Who would be your favourite designer or style inspiration?

I’m going to side with the Italians — Missoni and Society Limonta

What would be a dream project for you to work on?

The McNutt brand has been around for quite some time, but we still get very excited to experiment within our own company and with other brands.