Harris Tweed Hebrides
Legacy
The History And Heritage of Authentic British Harris Tweed
For centuries, Harris Tweed has been a vital thread in the history of the Outer Hebrides, connecting us to a rich and powerful story at the heart of this island community and its cultural heritage. Thoughtful. Time-honoured. Timeless. In an age when sustainability is gaining the recognition it demands, the unchanging characteristics of Harris Tweed are more valuable than ever; and appealing to a new generation of modern, slow-luxury pioneers. To this day, every yard of Harris Tweed Hebrides cloth is still handwoven in the cosy, croft home of a Harris Tweed weaver using historic artisanal craft skills that have remained unchanged for over 100 years. These skills are passed through generations of our indigenous islanders with pride. The Hebridean islanders are so protective of Harris Tweed that in 1993 they spearheaded a successful act of Parliament prohibiting mills outside of the Outer Hebrides from labelling their fabrics Harris Tweed. The Harris Tweed Authority’s precious orb stamp is recognised globally as the guarantee of authentication; meaning that by law, the cloth must be made from pure virgin wool which has been dyed and spun on the islands and handwoven at the home of the weaver.
Harris Tweed Hebrides is proud of this heritage and looks forward to a sustainable future for the benefit of generations of islanders, as well as discerning clients around the world.
1. Fibre-dyeing
The first stage in our production is to dye the wool in our dye house. Fibre-dyeing at the raw wool stage ensures the unrivalled depth of colour for which Harris Tweed Hebrides is known. It also minimises dye waste and results in a fabric whose colour is ultra long-lasting. All our dyes are certified REACH compliant.
2. Blending
We then move onto blending, where we start to develop the sumptuous colour and texture effects, for which Harris Tweed Hebrides is known. At this stage of the process we bring together the dyed fibres in different combinations.
3. Carding
From blending to carding. Carding is important because It determines the quality of the yarn and the final cloth. Our highly skilled team disentangle and align the fibres to ensure the finest fabric at the end of the process.
4. Spinning
We now turn our 100% British Pure New Wool into yarn. The lustrous fibres are drawn out, twisted and spun onto a bobbin.
5. Warping
Warping is the foundation of the woven fabric and our skilled team arrange the threads in parallel and run them vertically on the loom. The yarn is now complete and is finally ready to leave our 100-year-old Shawbost Mill.
6. Weaving
Every yard of Harris Tweed Hebrides cloth is handwoven in the croft home of a Harris Tweed weaver on foot-powered treadle looms, using historic artisanal craft skills that have remained unchanged for over 100 years. The secrets of these precious skills are passed through generations of the island’s community with pride.
7. Finishing
The handwoven fabric returns to Shawbost Mill for finishing. Harris Tweed Hebrides' team of cloth finishers are renowned for their impeccable attention to detail, checking every yard of cloth by eye, to ensure our fabric is ready for the demands of a modern luxury design house.
8. Authenticating
Harris Tweed Hebrides produces world-class, 100% British Harris Tweed. The final stage in the production process is for our cloth to be independently certified. It is inspected and stamped with the Harris Tweed Authority’s Orb as a guarantee of authenticity, that the fabric is ‘a tweed cloth that is handwoven by islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool, dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides’, in accordance with the Harris Tweed Act, 1993.
Legacy
World-class, 100% British heritage cloth. Still handwoven today using generations-old indigenous crafts passed down through our Hebridean islander community, since 1840.
Luxury
Contemporary design meets couture quality in our premium 100% Pure New Wool artisanal Harris Tweed cloth, handwoven for the world’s leading fashion and interiors houses.
Low Impact
A unique, single country of origin supply chain, certified and independently authenticated to exceed modern standards of sustainability and offer unparalleled peace of mind.
The Orb of Authenticity
Harris Tweed Hebrides produces world-class, 100% British Harris Tweed - independently verified and stamped with the Harris Tweed Authority’s Orb as a guarantee of authenticity and in accordance with the Harris Tweed Act, 1993.
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