About Harris Tweed

The process

The origins of the cloth are far in the past. It was first of all made by the inhabitants of the Outer Hebrides from the wool of their own sheep and made into garments to protect them from the cold and damp. All the processes were done by hand and each member of the household would have his or her part to play.

Over the decades, the process has evolved while always remaining true to the basic principles which are enshrined, uniquely, in an Act of Parliament. Today, Harris Tweed is the only handwoven fabric produced in commercial quantities.

The yarn production process uses specially blended yarns produced to secret recipes and then warped up to exclusive designs before being sent to weavers’ homes to be handwoven by means of skills which have been handed down from generation to generation. The cloth is then returned to the mill to be finished to very high standards.

At this stage, the final stage in the process is examination by the independent Harris Tweed Authority and once it has been inspected and approved, the famous Orb trade mark is ironed onto the fabric as the ultimate seal of approval.  Then and only then, it can be called true Harris Tweed!