We were honoured to write a blog for Go Cotswolds, offering guided tours around the Cotswolds, have you checked it out?
'There is something deeply special about the Cotswolds in the early morning. The rolling hills, dry stone walls and grazing sheep feel almost unchanged by time. For generations, wool shaped this landscape, creating prosperity, communities and craftsmanship that became synonymous with the region itself. Today, although much has changed, that connection between the Cotswolds and wool still quietly exists and it is this heritage that inspired the creation of Beatrice Bayliss.
I grew up on a family farm in the Cotswolds, where farming has been part of the Bayliss family for over 100 years. Some of my earliest memories are of being surrounded by sheep, muddy boots and my grandad. Farming teaches you patience and respect for the land, the seasons and the animals in your care; those values have stayed with me throughout my life.
My grandad was a huge influence on me growing up. He kept Cotswold sheep himself and had an enormous appreciation for the breed and its history. Known for their distinctive curly fleeces and gentle nature, Cotswold sheep are one of Britain’s oldest native breeds and are deeply tied to the identity of the region. In fact, the medieval wool trade helped shape many of the beautiful Cotswold towns and villages visitors know and love today. Grand churches, market halls and honey-coloured buildings were built on the success of wool. Despite this incredible heritage, British wool is often undervalued in modern fashion. While studying fashion design at London College of Fashion, I became increasingly frustrated by how disconnected clothing had become from the materials and people behind it. Sustainability was often spoken about, but genuine traceability and local production felt surprisingly rare.
After graduating, I realised I wanted to create something that brought together my two worlds: farming and fashion.
That was the beginning of Beatrice Bayliss. The brand was built around a simple idea to celebrate British wool, British craftsmanship and the people who make both possible. Today, we work exclusively with pedigree Cotswold Sheep Society farms in the local area to source our wool, helping to support farmers who care deeply for their flocks and preserve this remarkable breed. Our wool is then processed by mills across the UK, specialists in rare-breed fibres, before becoming luxury yarns, knitting kits and handmade knitwear. Every piece is designed by me and brought to life by talented hand knitters across the UK, ensuring each product carries a genuine connection to place and craft.
For me personally, working with Cotswold wool is deeply emotional. Choosing this breed was a tribute to my grandad after he passed away. In many ways, Beatrice Bayliss became a way of carrying forward his values: respect for the land, pride in local heritage and appreciation for honest craftsmanship.
Running an independent luxury knitting and knitwear brand is never without challenges, but there is something incredibly rewarding about creating products with meaning behind them. Every skein of yarn and every knitted jumper represents the work of many hands, the farmers, the spinners, the knitters all connected through one material and at its heart, Beatrice Bayliss is about restoring value to things often overlooked: British wool, rural skills and slower, more thoughtful making. It is a celebration of the Cotswolds not just as a destination of beauty, but as a living landscape shaped by farming, heritage and craft for centuries.
You can explore our yarns, knitting kits and handmade knitwear, via our website www.beatricebayliss.com or across the Cotswolds being stocked in Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water to name a few of the incredible villages that BB is stocked. You can also shop BB across the pond in New York and Washington!
Explore Go Cotswolds and the article here.
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