Glenbuchat Heritage

25 Maggie Hyne knitwear Glenbuchat 1970,s 80,s

Ron Boyko and his wife Margaret Hyne moved into the Old Shop at Belnacraig Glenbuchat in the early 1970’s. Ron set up a pottery business ‘Glenbuchat pottery’ and Maggie set up a knitwear business ‘Maggie Hyne Knitwear’

The following article appeared in the Aberdeen Evening Express - Wednesday 25 January 1984

A pattern for life on Strathdon
By Liz Murphy

It must have resembled a scene from a Dickens novel as Margaret Hyne struggled to finish a pile of Jumpers by candlelight. She had Just a few hours to complete about 20 outfits before they were due to be loaded on to the London train. But, as she was adding the final touches, the lights at her Strathdon home went out. “Every designer has things that aren’t quite perfect," she said, explaining the last-minute rush. “And you tend to re-do things. Only we had a power cut and I had to finish everything off by candlelight” Thirty-four-year-old Margaret was one of only seven Scottish knitwear designers chosen to present their latest collections at a London show for British and International buyers. And her dedication paid off with several orders, as well as appointments to see buyers from the world’s top fashion houses. It means even more success for Margaret, who for the past 10 years has been making stylish jumpers and co-ordinates for markets both In Britain and abroad.

Exciting
She steers clear of the traditional idea of Scottish knitwear. Her collections Include both men’s and women’s fashions. The latest incorporates wide range of ladles' evening wear. "I have used a lot of lurex,” Margaret described, “and deep V-necks. These styles are exciting rather than warm.” Margaret claims to be one of the few Scottish designers moving into the evening wear market. "I have been doing for a couple of years and am the only knitter In Scotland to really concentrating on it. I did a bigger collection than anyone else. It's very exciting and very glamorous.” Margaret's work has now Joined collections from 38 other Scottish designers for a public Strathdon knitwear designer Margaret Hyne. exhibition being staged at the Trade Development Centre in London until March 2. Clothes exhibited will reach the shops in time for the winter ’B4 season. Margaret Is graduate from Edinburgh College of Art She started as a weaver in Grantown-on-Spey nine years ago. But, in 1976, she moved to Strathdon and changed to knitting. Now she designs and has 12 people who make the clothes by machine in their own homes.

Exports

Her husband, Ron Boyko, also runs a pottery business from their house in Glenbuchat. Most of Margaret’s work is sold in Britain, but she also exports about 40% of her garments to the Scandinavian countries and to Australia and America. “I have been Interested in working with textiles since I was at art college,” Margaret explained. “Just now I’m using lamb’s wool which is very soft and tweed which is highly textured.” Colours her new collections are mainly greys, browns and blacks. “The shape the moment Is very much oversized, but in a variety of styles, some with raglan sleeves and some with dropped shoulders.” Margaret produces only one collection a year, preferring to reserve her energies for the winter season rather than spring. Although this year she had the show in mind while she was designing and it proved an enormous success. And she added: "It was good that I'll have to start looking for more knitters!”