It is the culmination of 18 months of hard work by the former finance managing director, her husband Steve, and later son Robert Banks and daughter-in-law Kristie Banks. Together, they have joined forces to ensure that Le Courriqua is a family-owned and run business, one that has passion and authenticity at its heart.
The background to the company has its roots when a pet flock of five sheep were looking for a new home. Denise had spent time in France (where she and Steve lived for half the year), where she had grown fond of a local shepherd’s sheep.
‘They were like therapy for me,’ she said. However, post-Brexit, the couple decided to move back to Guernsey permanently.
Alerted by her daughter-in-law and encouraged by Steve, she immediately offered to rehome the sheep, and within a few weeks, they were peacefully grazing on her land.
More sheep joined, some Lleyns from Sark and others from local shepherd Marcel Worley, who is now part of the team caring for the extended flock.
Denise always wanted to knit a traditional guernsey that did not itch. Her cousin, Ruby, had taught her to knit a guernsey, which she proudly achieved before Ruby’s passing.
Le Courriqua’s local flock is now a combination of Romney, Shropshire and Lleyns. In 2025, they were all sheared, with the fleeces being sent to British wool spinners, the Natural Fibre Co, based in Cornwall.
What came back was ‘creamy, airy yarn’, according to Denise. The yarn, which was not dyed or bleached, was turned into bounnés and guernseys with a Le Courriqua twist. Originally, Denise purchased a domestic knitting machine, but it was not long before she progressed to a commercial.
The top few rows of the neckline are created in Jersey roll, meaning that they rollover and don’t cling around the neck. Each garment also has the Fort Grey signature rib.
‘Fort Grey is very special for our family, as we all live on the west coast near there,’ said Denise. ‘The flock overlook it.’
Indeed, it was the setting for Thursday evening’s launch.
Denise explained that there are two sides to the business. The local sheep, which are sheared annually (it takes around 1kg of wool per jumper) would not provide enough wool for commercial output. These jumpers will be a ‘special vintage’.
Keen to support British farmers, she works with Europa Wools in Yorkshire, who provides her with a bespoke yarn from a combination of Kent Romneys and Bluefaced Leicesters, a breed of long-wool sheep. ‘These sheep produce the closest wool to cashmere that you can get,’ she said.
From these sheep, there are three ‘core’ colours of undyed, navy and ruby red (named after the aforementioned cousin). The 2026 colours are denim and oatmeal. All garments are knitted in Guernsey, and each one is washed and tumble-dried prior to sale, called a wet finish.
Denise – who launched charity Every Child Our Future over 10 years ago – is passionate that the skill of knitting is not lost on the island.
‘It’s important to invest in young people,’ she said, adding that, if not, those skills will be lost.
The collection is available online at www.lecourriqua.com and also through Rowan Tree Farm, which opens on 4 July. Le Courriqua is pronounced Le-Cor-ree-ka, and is named after the fiefdom where the sheep graze.
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