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Press cutting
Jamie & Jessi Seaton (Jessica [Jessi] and James [Jamie] Seaton, founders of the fashion and lifestyle brand Toast, met in 1974 while studying archaeology at Birmingham University. In the late 1970s, they moved to west Wales to work on an archaeological dig. In 1978, using £700 given to them by Jessica's mother as a wedding gift, they purchased a knitting machine, a quantity of wool, and established Southernwood Woollens. The company later rebranded as Jamie & Jessi Seaton, and J&J Seaton. Within six months of establishing the company, the Seatons were taken-on by a Los Angeles based agent, and they subsequently supplied sweaters to shops across the west coast of America. From their home in Carmarthenshire, they employed freelance knitters from across the UK to make intarsia hand-knitted sweaters designed by James. From 1986 onwards, they exhibited each collection at London, New York, Milan and Paris fashion weeks. Through this, and other means, their knitwear was sold to many leading department stores worldwide – including Liberty London, Browns, Sacks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel, Barneys and Shiseido. They also worked freelance for other brands – such as Misaki Shoji, Conran, Mulberry, and Paul Smith. Following the successful launch of Toast in 1997, J&J Seaton produced its final collection in 1998.)
Court Circular press cutting, 8 July 1992. Contains details of a visit by Princess Anne (The Princess Royal) to Jamie and Jessica Seaton's home and workplace. 'The Princess Royal, President of the British Knitting and Clothing Export Council, this morning visited Jamie and Jessie Seaton, Goetre, Llanfynnydd, Carmarthen and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Dyfed (Mr David Mansel-Lewis)'.
Collection Area
Social & Cultural History
Item Number
F2019.22.141.1
Creation/Production
The Daily Telegraph Limited
Jamie & Jessi Seaton
Date: 1992 –
Acquisition
Donation (joint), 13/5/2019
Measurements
Techniques
printing
Material
newspaper
Location
In store
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