Eribé: Fair Isle knitwear, designed in the Scottish Borders

Who Eribé are

Rosemary Eribé founded Eribé Knitwear in 1986 and the company is still based at Rose House in Melrose, in the Scottish Borders. It describes itself as a modern pioneer of traditional artisan techniques, blending Scottish craftsmanship with contemporary style, and specialises in the Fair Isle technique. In 2001 the founder introduced hand painted cashmere collections. In 2024 the company received a King's Award for Enterprise in the international trade category.

What sets Eribé apart from most Fair Isle is colour. The yoke patterns are traditional, the palettes are not, and the brand introduces new colourways every year after a development process that runs for months.

Where it is made: the honest version

This matters and most retailers get it wrong, so read this bit.

Eribé is designed in Melrose in the Scottish Borders. That is true of everything. Manufacture is split.

The Kinross is genuinely made in Scotland, in 100% superfine merino lambswool that is Scottish spun, fully traceable and guaranteed non mulesed to the Responsible Wool Standard.

The Alpine Short sweaters and cardigan are knitted in the EU by Eribé's small family run factory, from 100% lambswool or merino lambswool with the yarn spun in Yorkshire. Matching Alpine accessories are made in Scotland, but the garments themselves are not.

Several stockists write "made in Scotland" across the whole range. That is not accurate, and on a country of origin claim it is not a risk worth taking, so we have set it out properly instead.

What we stock

Two styles.

The Alpine Short Sweater and the Alpine Short Cardigan. The Alpine is a contemporary take on the Scottish Fair Isle yoke pattern, with tweed detailing around the rib hems and extra long cuffs.

The Kinross Sweater. This is the Fair Isle crew neck, and the Scottish made one.

Sizes run XS to L.

Sizing, including the bit about split sizes

Eribé's women's sizing maps as XS is UK 6 to 8, S is UK 8 to 10, M is UK 10 to 12, L is UK 12 to 14, XL is UK 14 to 16 and XXL is UK 16 to 18.

Fit is style dependent rather than brand wide, and Eribé says so itself: each style is individually designed and fits vary from slim to relaxed, across four categories, slim, regular, relaxed and oversized. Measurements on the brand's charts are garment flat measurements in centimetres with a tolerance of up to 2cm.

For the two styles we carry, this matters. The Alpine Short Sweater and Cardigan are slim fit and hip length, and Eribé's own advice is that if you enjoy a looser fit you should choose the next size up. The Kinross is regular fit, or size up for an oversized look.

Some Eribé styles use split sizing, where a garment is labelled across two sizes. The smaller of the two wears snugger and the larger more relaxed, and those pieces are designed to be slouchy and easy to throw on.

How to wash it, properly

Eribé's own instructions, and they are specific enough to be worth following to the letter.

Hand wash only. Turn the garment inside out and wash by hand in tepid water. Add a small amount of liquid hand soap, and never use regular washing detergent, which damages the fibres. Squeeze the garment gently in the water without rubbing. Rinse in clean water with half a teaspoon of almond oil added to condition the wool, and do not use fabric conditioner. Pull gently back to shape and dry flat on a clean towel away from radiators and direct heat.

For bobbling, remove the pills by hand or with a sweater comb or razor, and never with scissors. Store knitwear folded on a shelf rather than on hangers, which stretches the seams, and for long term storage use an airtight container or vacuum bag with something to repel moths. If moths do appear, seal the pieces in plastic bags and freeze them for two weeks.

Do not machine wash Eribé, on any cycle. The brand does not offer it as an option.