Harris Tweed

The Origins of Hebridean Tweed

Harris Tweed is a cooperative of Scottish weavers, founded in 1906, and globally recognized for the quality of their tweed. We have partnered with them for their ancestral know-how in creating wool cloths with unique patterns and the incredible quality of their wool.

From small Scottish drapers...

It all begins in Scotland, where the inhabitants of the Hebrides, a group of islands in the northeast of Scotland, have been weaving since immemorial time, a magnificent and complex fabric that the world knows as Harris Tweed. The islanders of Lewis, Harris, Uist, and Barra only wove for their crofts (small farms) or sold their woolen cloths in local markets.

In 1846, Lady Dunmore, widow of the landowner of Harris, the Duc of Dunmore, had the clan tartan reproduced by Harris weavers. Satisfied with the result, she devoted considerable time and effort to distribute the tweed to her wealthy friends. Sales of the island fabric quickly established themselves with merchants across the country.

to a renowned label...

Harris Tweed became highly sought after in the highest social circles. Between 1903 and 1906, the tweed industry was booming, and in Lewis island, carding and spinning mills were built to meet the ever-increasing orders. With the growing popularity of tweed, it became clear that measures were necessary to protect the good reputation of Harris Tweed fabric against imitations.

In 1909, the cooperative The Harris Tweed Association Limited was born from the desire to protect these weavers but also as a guarantee of quality towards merchants and customers. The famous Orb and Maltese Cross with the words Harris Tweed underneath became the seal as a registered trademark. This certification mark was registered in 1910, and stamping began in 1911.

In 1934, the definition of the trademark was modified to allow the use of industrially spun yarn on the island in addition to hand-spun yarn, enabling the industry to make a huge leap in production. The stamped meterage increased tenfold and continued to grow until reaching the record figure of 7.6 million meters in 1966.

to the world reference in Tweed

From royalty and nobility to Hollywood stars and the best haute couture designers, this simple fabric, produced by skilled artisans of the Outer Hebrides, has become an essential of modern wardrobe, a must-have item for discerning customers worldwide. In its rise to fame, Harris Tweed fabric has climbed Everest, appeared on the big screen, sailed the seven seas, and exhibited itself on red carpets or catwalks. By the mid-20th century, Clo Mor (in Gaelic "The Great Cloth") had secured its status as a genuine and timeless classic textile.

In the early 1990s, the industry set itself the goal of transforming and modernizing by producing a double-width loom, retraining weavers, introducing stricter standards, and marketing a new wider, softer, and lighter tweed. This work was consolidated when the Harris Tweed Authority took over from the Harris Tweed Association following the Act of Parliament of 1993. Thus, the definition of Harris Tweed fabric became statutory and forever tied the fabric to the islands.

Discover our goods crafted by Harris Tweed