White Gold

Project Funded by Creative Scotland

When Shepherds Become Kings

Rooted in handwoven Chitrali Shu and guided by Celtic cosmology, the project reimagines the shepherd’s cloak as a moving constellation – part garment, part map, part prayer. Each cloak is cut from mountain wool and embroidered by hand with “white gold” thread, tracing stories of migration, weather, grazing routes and the quiet labour that keeps flocks – and families – alive.

Developed between Chitral and Scotland, White Gold brings together artisans, designers and storytellers to ask what it means to protect land and livelihood in a time of climate unravelling. The cloaks are not costumes or souvenirs; they are propositions for how we might walk more slowly, carry our histories on our backs, and let wool remember what the world is trying to forget.

Using the archetype of the shepherd, the project documents stories of community, connection, and craftsmanship. It captures indigenous knowledge, patterns, and perceptions among Celtic cultures, engaging contemporary audiences through the symbolism of the shepherd's cloak and its universal narrative. It uses wool, once a precious material considered to have the value of white gold as a symbol that unites cultures around the globe and also to raise awareness around what is of value in life and society, now that wool is being discarded and faces very low market value. By uniting cultures and traditions, the project connects with human values and builds upon wool's timeless symbolism to tell universal stories and restore the material's value.