Pig Pannage
Here at Kite, we love creating designs with a story behind them. Our team work hard to find unique inspiration that translates into thoughtful, beautiful styles we're proud to share with you.
Each season, there’s always one idea that stands out as extra special, and this time, it’s our pig pannage print!
What is Pannage?
This ancient tradition (going all the way back to William the Conqueror!) is the practice of releasing pigs into a forest during the autumn months.
During this time, they munch all the acorns and chestnuts on the forest floor which are poisonous to ponies. Pigs are able to safely spit out the toxic skins and enjoy acorns as a tasty treat.
Pannage is no longer carried out in many areas of the country, but our neighbours in the New Forest are keeping this incredible tradition alive.
Fun fact: in the 19th century, there were up to 6,000 pigs released for Pannage season! Today, around 600 pigs are let loose in the forest.
Why we chose this story
Our pig pannage print actually came about by accident! One of the Kite HQ team was helping their little one with homework and stumbled upon the story.
Jo, our founder and head of design, knew immediately it was a great idea for our latest season.
"It felt like the perfect story to tell within our wider theme, The Hug. It's such a special demonstration of friendship and working together, right on our doorstep. Even in nature, teamwork makes the dream work!"
Creating our design
As with all Kite designs, many iterations were developed to turn our inspiration into the perfect print. Jo and our in-house designer, Katie, shared some of the process with us:
"We knew that we wanted to bring together the animals and elements from the forest, including those all-important acorns.
We started with a patchwork idea but it didn't quite show the togetherness we were aiming for. So, we decided to weave the pigs and ponies together, connecting them with things you'd find in a forest, plus a little bit of magic, like a rainbow.
We loved how it turned out, and the pink really makes it pop. We hope you like it as much as we do.”
The styles
You'll spot our frolicking pigs and friendly ponies throughout our collection.
Pair our pig pannage print with so many matching styles and accessories. Don’t forget to complete your look with our matching socks for the ultimate head-to-toe perfection.
Plus, you'll find coordinating colours and details across the collection to make it easy to combine all your Kite favourites.
Where to spot the Pannage in action
Great news - the pigs are currently in the forest!
If you fancy spotting our foraging friends, head over to the New Forest before Friday 22 November when the Pannage season officially ends.
These fab pictures were snapped by Kite HQ's garment technologist, Emily, on a recent trip.
The New Forest is a fantastic place to explore with lots of scenic walks, just be sure not to feed or pet the pigs - they're hard at work.
For more information about Pannage season and the best way to discover the New Forest, visit the official New Forest tourism website.
