As part of our research for the new collaboration with the Cornish Gems Holidays, Nadia from CG and I visited the Newlyn Fish Market and Harbour. We were welcomed for a coffee morning with the Fishermen's Mission. We talked about the history of fishing in Cornwall and the future of the trade with windows facing the harbour busy with men organising their nets.

The stories were fascinating, and so were the charmingly aged fishermen. They also highlighted how tough the trade is - hence not many people choose to do it anymore. The fish and seafood that they pull from the sea in Cornwall is very sought after at the high end restaurants in the UK and internationally, traveling also to places like US and Japan. Yet the individual tradesmen are often on the mercy of the weather, the competition from the large fishing ships and the effect of climate change. The Fishermen's Mission is there to give some financial and social support and stability for their families at turbulent times.

We also learnt about sail making, laser cutting the shapes, using the longest sewing machine that I have ever seen with Woody the sailmaker by the harbour. There was conversation about using reclaimed materials like old sails to create something new. The real sail materials are fascinatingly crisp and technical with huge fastenings and hinges used for the bespoke sails.

Nadia and I finished the fantastic day in Newlyn with a moment of restorative sauna, of course, enjoying foraged scents with Rising Embers Sauna, right by the Newlyn Gallery and the sea. It felt good to step aside from the usual fashion design days at the studio and let this unique place by the sea take us on a different kind of inspiration journey.

TEIJA X

Photography Leon Wiggan for the Cornish Gems.