SILK is not a four-letter word for Brad McGlashan, owner of Sydney’s only speciality scarf shop. His atelier boutique sells, designs and creates bespoke scarves at 8A Hughes Street, Potts Point, a few metres from Macleay Street.

Originally trained in fashion design overseas and having studied art history as part of an Arts/Law degree, he set up his boutique four years ago in a quiet corner of Sydney for aficionados. The collection includes the most exquisite and exotic materials and a wide range of scarves for both men and women, ready for the forthcoming Autumnal and Winter seasons.

“A scarf is a women’s best friend and enhances any ensemble”, he says. “They are easy to carry for travellers and be worn lightly around the neck to enhance the face, as a bandana or headscarf, as an accoutrement on a handbag or even as a sarong or couch throw over. For a good wardrobe I recommend simple outfits with great scarves which personalise an individual.“
“You can never have too many scarves,” says Indigo, Skarfe’s in-house couturier, “The effect is chic and poise”.

For men, a cuddly scarf creates a bro-mance: it’s a necessity and offers practical protection from winter winds. Skarfe has a hundred to choose from to match any suit or casual gear.

The customer-driven collection is from all over the world and is always changing with designers from Paris, Budapest, Germany, Italy as well as Australia.
Designers include Karen Mabon, Italy, Inouitoosh, Paris and German designers, The Front Row Society. Phillip Ayers, a local Sydney photographer and designer with silk of ten moms ( a term measuring the tightness of the weave) is well represented in the collection.
“Any great scarf is has a signature and is defined by its finish, its “handle” or texture, and its design,” says Brad.

Scarves, like their owners, come in all shapes and sizes. Skarfe’s range includes an Art Déco 50 cm by 50 cm scarfette up to larger 2.4 metre by 1.4 metre scarves and are created in twill silk, rare diaphanous fine cashmere, chiffon (transparent silk), ge orgette (matt finish sheer silk), fine wool or linen: all breathe very well in Sydney’s climate.

They are hand-made or, more recently, digitally designed. Digitalisation is a modern 20th century technique using a computer-generated image. The image is loaded onto the computer just as any image is. But a paper printer is not used. The uber-expensive, sensitive fabric printer is very special: as the delicate material is fed into it, it realises the image perfectly onto the fabric. Anything can be put on a scarf, even your own image! The results are spectacularly beautiful.
Brad can arrange custom printing. Local artist, Victoria, Smyth, from Potts Point, prints gorgeous images of delicate foliage from nearby Rushcutters Bay Park onto fine silk; it caresses the skin when worn.

Skarfe offers readers an invitation to its VIP pre-Mothers’ Day special event:
Thursday 11th May 2017, 6:00 pm with drinks and nibbles with a 10% discount.
Book on-line www.skarfe.com by signing up to their newsletter.
Shop hours: open seven days a week, Mon- Sat 10am to 6pm & Sundays 11am to 4pm.
Phone 8057 5933

By Andrew Woodhouse, Director, Heritage Solutions

Image: The art of the scarf. Brad McGlashan, owner and Indigo: Skarfe at 8 Hughes Street Potts Point