Wear a Guernsey Day raises £450 for RNLI
ISLANDERS wore their favourite guernsey for Wear a Guernsey Day to pay tribute to their history, and raised about £450 for the RNLI.
More than 100 people visited stands outside the Tourist Information Centre yesterday, trying on guernseys, visiting the RNLI stall, and enjoying beanjar and gache melee from Friends of Mary’s Meals, with refreshments from the GSPCA.
‘Wear a Guernsey Day is great because it highlights our heritage and is a fun way of doing charitable things,’ said Paul Eldridge from Guernsey Woollens.
‘It’s a fantastic garment which is good for the environment.’
Dating back to the 17th century, guernsey jumpers were primarily worn by fishermen.
Kez Le Pelley from Le Tricoteur explained how different stitches were used to represent waves and the ladders which were used.
‘We have kept them traditional but have introduced lots of new colours,’ she added.
‘It takes a couple of weeks to make one and they are exported all round the world.’
The traditional navy guernsey was the best seller, but new autumn colours have also been popular.
Flo Ivory-Peters from Le Tricoteur said the guernseys were made from 100% British wool and were still hand-finished and made in the traditional way.
‘They are very sustainable and environmentally friendly – they last forever.
‘It’s nice to get together with other Guernsey businesses and do this together.’
Mr Eldridge said as well as traditional guernseys and hats for sale, Guernsey Woollens had a Christmas jumper available, combating fast, throwaway fashion.
‘It has a timeless design which you can wear year on year,’ he said.
He added there had been a recent shift, with more younger people wearing guernseys.
‘Students have been buying them to take to university.’
Multiple competition prizes were available, including two Guernsey Museums discovery passes for the generations award, a prize from the Guernsey Hamper Company for the largest group, and a bottle of Channel Islands Liquor Co’s Spiced Indica Rum for the Salty Sea Dog traditional sailor award.
The winner of the best photo competition received a Guernsey Woollens Winter Guernsey and a Le Tricoteur Guernsey of their choice.
