The lead character in a new Netflix adaptation of one of Agatha Christie’s novels is seen wearing a guernsey for the bulk of the show.
The three-part series ‘The Seven Dials Mystery’ launched on Netflix on 14 January and since then has already amassed an 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Set in the 1920s in England, it shows the lead character trying to solve a mystery.
For part of her efforts she is dressed in a navy guernsey – something which pleased Paul Eldridge from Guernsey Woollens when he was asked about this.
“It came as quite a surprise because normally studios and things get in touch, and we have a bit heads up, whereas with this one, the first time I was aware that a guernsey was being used was when Express approached me,” he explained.
“I assume (the studio) bought it straight off the peg, because quite often we’ll get approached by studios to say, ‘oh, can you do it this way?’ or ‘can you do this?’.”
Mr Eldridge said some films like ‘Swallows and Amazons’ have showcased guernseys to great effect too, but it’s not always so obvious when a character is wearing one.
“We made 100 garments for ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’, but it all ended up on the editing room floor because the film was too long and it was used as the uniform for the French Aurors and their part of the storyline was cut massively to trim the film down, and so you never get to see it, other than under a coat,” he added.
That didn’t happen on this occasion, so when Mr Eldridge sat down to watch ‘The Seven Dials Mystery’ over the weekend he was pleasantly surprised to see Lady Eileen Brent demonstrating how fashionable and hardy a guernsey can be.
“Its background is very much utility, and it still carries that to its core, but then in certain circles it has become fashion, certainly in South Korea and Japan it’s much more down that sort of fashion type route.
“Some of our other customers also pick them up and sell them in a more fashionable way but it just depends how you want to style it. We’ve got farmers and fishermen wearing them right the way through to military uniforms. They just tick so many boxes because they’re smart enough to be smart, but utilitarian enough for people to wear them for those other jobs as well.”
With the show launching on Netflix less than a week ago, Mr Eldridge said it is unclear yet if Lady Eileen’s exploits will help push guernseys to a wider market, but he agreed it is all good publicity for the island and our traditional knitwear.
“There was a couple of young gardeners that had a TV show and one of those wore a guernsey a couple of times, and that would spark phone calls and more orders, but it’s very difficult to know what does spark interest sometimes.
“Normally, we can follow the order patterns but sometimes we’ll get a spike in a week and you think, ‘well, what’s caused that?’ and we don’t always get to find out.”
Mr Eldridge also pointed out that at the end of the three-part series, Lady Eileen’s guernsey looks as pristine as when she first puts it on, which proves how durable they are.
“What’s nice is the comments as well on social media where people have said ‘I love mine’, or ‘I’m so glad to see this’,” he added.
“You get the likes and things but when people who have worn them actually comment and say they’re excited to see her wearing it, or they’re just glad to see them on screen, it’s great.”