The downturn in the oil and gas market has led one of the oldest businesses in Angus to join forces with an art college as it looks to diversify.
Montrose Rope & Sail has teamed up with Robert Gordon University’s Gray’s School of Art as it targets new high-end markets.
The organisations will work together for two years under a knowledge transfer partnership to develop a product range that is design–led, built on heritage branding and focused on the luxury end of the market.
Montrose Rope & Sail is one of the oldest independent companies in Scotland, founded over 200 years ago by a rope and sail maker in Leith, which currently focuses on niche markets and produces a range of products — primarily all-weather bags for the oil and gas industry.
Under the guidance of Gray’s academics Josie Steed, course leader for fashion and textiles, and Keith Gray, lecturer in fashion design, the collaboration will provide Montrose Rope & Sail with support in luxury design-led markets, opportunities for routes to market and branding.
Neil Paton, Montrose Rope & Sail managing director explained: “It is hoped that this project will develop, manufacture and brand a new range of products within the luxury high-end fashion accessories market, utilising our company’s heritage, existing expertise within manufacturing and our unique industrial range of products.
“Building on our strengths, our reputation for quality products and our ability to produce great handmade goods at our base in Angus, our continual investment in new machinery and manufacturing knowledge and skills, we want to reposition aspects of our brand within the luxury high-end market with a clear commercial objective — hopefully our linkup with Gray’s can help us achieve this.”
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is a UK-wide programme that has been helping businesses for the past 40 years to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills.
Josie added: “This is a really exciting project to be involved in and hopefully we can use our collective experience and expertise, coupled with some fresh ideas from our existing students, to deliver some really positive outcomes for Montrose Rope & Sail.”
rmclaren@thecourier.co.uk