About Us
Aamos designs, is a unique fashion company created by designers Emma Blain and Claire Henry.
Claire and Emma first met at the Shetland F.E. College in 2001 where they both, completed a HNC course in art/design and crafts. Although they knew each other, they only became friends when they both got accepted to study textiles at The Glasgow School of Art in September 2002.
At Glasgow they had the choice of studying either embroidery, knit, weave or print, but it was the creating of fabric that attracted both Claire and Emma and in their third year they specialised in weave. Claire was interested in textiles for interiors, where Emma studied textiles for fashion.
The pair Graduated in June 2006 with a BA (hons) Degree in Design. Later that month they moved back to Shetland, and immediately started developing Aamos Designs. Starting their own business was a great way to promote and market the skills and techniques gained during their time at the Glasgow School of Art, as well as establishing them as designers.
Aamos is an old Shetland word that means, a gift promised in the hope that a wish will be granted to the donor. The donor is said ta lay on a aamos and if the wish is granted, the person who was presumed to have brought the luck is said to have won da aamos.
Claire and Emma are currently developing their collection for autumn/winter 2007; the title of their collection is “Alice in Northmaven”. The concept behind it is nostalgia; it is their interpretation of Shetland “through the looking-glass”, a journey into the depths of an imaginary world, possibly playing on stereotypes, as well as traditional values. It will make for a very bright and exciting collection. The girls feel that having a Shetland identity within their textiles is important, whether that be through using Shetland yarns, being influenced by the Shetland landscape, or simply by the fact that it is produced in Shetland, quality and uniqueness is at the forefront of their designs.