231027 Collection Digital Cover 1 - Flipbook - Page 63
“Harris Tweed is hand-woven by the islanders at their
homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer
Hebrides and made from pure virgin wool dyed and
spun in the Outer Hebrides.”
It is said that the cloth of a master craftsman is made not just from
knowledge of his craft, passed down through the centuries to become
a highly skilled art, but also from knowledge of how to get the best from
his tools, which have oftentimes been in the same family for generations.
Despite the craftsman’s skill taking months to learn yet years to master,
his skilled hands are able to manipulate the idiosyncrasies of his loom
with ease, and the cloth that he produces is a result of patient labour,
deep love, and an innate understanding of the tools and materials
he uses.
There is perhaps no other material in the world that better encapsulates
the embodiment of this skill, and the magic and romance of master
craftsmanship than Harris Tweed. As the world’s only commerciallyproduced hand-woven tweed, this stylish, versatile and – as history has
ultimately proved – timeless cloth is desired by both lords and laymen
alike, and has adorned not just backs, but bags, shoes and even interiors.
The essence of the brand is the unique story it tells, and with famous
fans of Harris Tweed including King Charles, the Princess of Wales and
Madonna, it’s not hard to see why the appeal of this durable design staple
continues to endure.
The beauty of the style and colour of the cloth is reminiscent of the remote
islands in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland on which the material is made.
Blazing blues are in similar shades to the surrounding azure seas, russet
reds are reminiscent of the rooftops of the cottages that dot the hillsides,
deep purples are a perfect match for the local heather, and gorgeous
greens are great substitutes for the lush landscape. This abundance
of natural influence is woven into the very fabric of every piece of Harris
Tweed, reflecting the life and the land of its origin.
Such visceral and prominent ties to the land in which it is manufactured
means Harris Tweed is protected in a similar way to Champagne, as it
can only be made on the Scottish isles of Harris, Lewis, Uist and Barra.
While its roots reach right back through the years, the capitals used
for writing Harris Tweed are a fairly recent addition to its history, a bid
by Harris Tweed’s statutory body (the Harris Tweed Authority) to better
protect the story and status of this luxurious cloth.
Harris Tweed’s importance has even been enshrined in law, and
it is subsequently now protected by its very own act of Parliament.
Passed in 1993, the Harris Tweed Act ensures that Harris Tweed
is “hand-woven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides,
finished in the Outer Hebrides and made from pure virgin wool dyed
and spun in the Outer Hebrides.” The Act ensures the quality and
authenticity of the cloth that carries the Harris Tweed name and bears
the mark of the Harris Tweed Orb (the logo most usually found affixed
to every finished Harris Tweed product). Every single part of the process,
from start to finish, takes place on these islands, and every single person
involved – every dyer, spinner, warper, weaver, inspector and more
besides – makes the Outer Hebrides their home. Most of the wool used
actually comes from mainland Scotland but at the beginning of every
summer, the islanders still come together to round up and shear the local
sheep. The whole process of making Harris Tweed is thus necessarily
meticulous and invariably complex, but such methodical attention
to detail at every stage of production and inspection maintains both
the quality and the legacy of this world-famous cloth.
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