All-female Cornish sea shanty group features in national television advert

AN all-female sea shanty group from Cornwall, singing at a Cornish heritage harbour, are featuring in a national television advert. 

The 15-strong Femmes de la Mer group were filmed singing Cornwall My Home at Charlestown harbour near St Austell. 

The singers are shown carrying lanterns made by artist Imogen Bone from West Cornwall. 

The Christmas advert, which was shot for the Seasalt clothing brand and explores the feeling of homecoming, will be running on Channel 4, Netflick and Amazon Prime this month and next month. 

A spokesperson for Seasalt said: “As the sun dipped beyond the horizon and the moonlight began to reflect on the water, we lit glowing paper lanterns handmade by Imogen Bone.  

“The twinkling procession along Charlestown’s harbour wall became an echo of the stars that have, for centuries, guided sailors and fishermen home for Christmas. 

“The advertising campaign is a celebration of craft, community and tradition – with returning to Cornwall at its heart. The story is grounded in our brand’s Cornish home, recreating the magic of a traditional lantern parade. The incredible Femmes de la Mer, local to Falmouth, provide the soundtrack, capturing the spirit of Christmas through song in a powerfully authentic way.” 

The singers, led by Claire Ingleheart and including her daughters Ruby and Saffron, wore clothes made by Seasalt for the shoot. 

The Seasalt team has been working with Femmes de la Mer since the start of the year when they provided the soundtrack to the brand’s Howlin Wind campaign. This was followed by an autumn campaign featuring Blood Red Roses. The group has also been the subject of a documentary, Our Cornwall, filmed by Grounded House Productions and sponsored by Seasalt, which will shortly be screened at various locations around the UK.   

The Femmes de La Mer group has been singing shanty songs together for more than 12 years.