You don’t have to be a Trinity student or graduate to love Avoca’s new collaboration

As we head slowly into a new season, Avoca’s collaboration with Trinity college has a cosy and inspiring collection of pieces I’ve got my eye on for winter.

Avoca, one of Ireland’s best-loved retailers, has collaborated with Trinity College Dublin on a collection of scarves, throws and blankets. It’s a pretty unique collaboration, so caught my eye immediately. Plus I’m obsessed with knits and textured weaves of any description so I’m always ready to part with a few pennies when I come across something that I haven’t seen before. My sister is obsessed with Avoca throws so I know firsthand how comforting they are to have draped over the sofa on an early autumn evening.

Given the unique heritage of both institutions, the collaboration makes perfect sense. While Trinity was established in 1592, Avoca has been weaving throws and blankets in its Mill in Wicklow since 1723. This new collection is inspired by the cobblestone’s of Trinity’s front square, the university’s 18th-century buildings and the works of famous past students such as Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde. The latter are my favourite pieces because they feature lovely quotes from each of the writers, such as ‘May you live all the days of your life’ from Jonathan Swift.

Jonathan Swift merino scarf (wide), €77.50

I imagine the collection will appeal to a lot of Trinity-schooled expats, who want a reminder of the fun, sweat and tears that is university education, as well as home itself. My brother is a former Trinity student and lives in Shanghai and I think he’d like the idea of a scarf from this collection. It’s always great to have a fresh gifting idea in the back of your mind as we head into September and Christmas (sorry!).

As an English graduate (not of Trinity), I’m really drawn to this collection because of the inspiring quotes. My favourite piece is the Oscar Wilde throw, which says, ‘Be yourself; everybody else is taken.’ That’s not a bad sentiment to be reminded of every day.

Trinity exam hall Donegal yarn throw (large), €164.90

The Avoca x Trinity collection is available from The Mill at Avoca or online at https://gifts.tcd.ie/trinity-1592/avoca/

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