Latest news with #HarrisTweedAuthority
Straits Times
14-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Tweed's youthful makeover resurrects symbol of Scottish heritage
Harris Tweed stoles displayed at the Isle of Harris Tweed shop in Tarbert, Isle of Harris, in the Outer Hebrides, northern Scotland in April. PHOTO: AFP Isle of Scalpay, United Kingdom – 'When you see tweed on the runway, you don't expect it to come from here,' jokes former banker Alexander MacLeod as he sets up his loom in a converted barn on the shores of a Scottish loch. Mr MacLeod, 38, became a weaver two years ago, joining residents on the islands of Lewis and Harris, off Scotland's north-west coast, in helping to rejuvenate the tweed industry after a significant period of decline. 'It's a good thing to keep the tradition going,' he says. Tweed is a symbol of Scottish heritage and has 'always been part of the culture' on the Outer Hebrides, adds Mr MacLeod, who hails from the island of Scalpay, which is connected to Harris by a bridge. It is now 'an attractive sector to be in', he says. Tweed weaver Alexander MacLeod on his loom in his atelier at his home on the Isle of Scalpay in the Outer Hebrides, northern Scotland. PHOTO: AFP He left the Hebrides for seven years to work in banking, but the pull of his roots proved too strong. Now, during the day, Mr MacLeod works for a small local cosmetics company. In the evening, he puts on a podcast, usually about espionage, and patiently begins to weave. Only the steady hum of his machine disturbs the calm of the old stone barn. Harris tweed, traditionally made from 100 per cent wool, is the only fabric protected by a 1993 Act of Parliament. It must be 'handwoven 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'. Blackface sheep and lambs, whose wool is used in Harris Tweed production, at the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Harris Tweed, traditionally made from 100 per cent wool, is the only fabric protected by a 1993 Act of Parliament. PHOTO: AFP The weaver speaks of his 'satisfaction' once the tweed is finished. The fabric, once associated with the British aristocracy, then goes to the spinning mill for a quality control check, where the slightest flaw is flagged. Finally, it receives the precious 'Harris Tweed' stamp – a globe topped with a cross – certifying the fabric's provenance and authenticity, issued by the Harris Tweed Authority (HTA). The tweed then leaves the island to be purchased by discerning companies abroad, including luxury brands such as Christian Dior, Chanel and Gucci. Several sneaker brands such as Nike, New Balance and Converse have also used it for limited-edition products. A weaving loom at work at the atelier of weaver Alexander MacLeod. PHOTO: AFP The traditional staples are jackets, caps and bags, but the fabric can also be used for furniture. There are 140 weavers, according to the HTA, which launched a recruitment campaign in 2023 and offered workshops to learn the trade following a wave of retirements. This know-how, often passed down from generation to generation, is now being nurtured by a different profile of weaver. Harris Tweed Authority's operations director Kelly MacDonald behind a weaving loom at her office in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, northern Scotland. PHOTO: AFP 'It's nice to see younger people coming in,' says Ms Kelly MacDonald, director of operations at the HTA. 'When I joined the industry 22 years ago, there was a severe period of decline. I was wondering, 'Is there going to be an industry any more?'' But the industry is now enjoying a resurgence and significant growth, with more than 580,000m of tweed produced in 2024. 'We are always looking at new markets,' she says, and tweed is now exported to South Korea, Japan, Germany and France, among other countries. It is no longer dependent on the American market, as it once was, and should be largely shielded from the tariffs imposed by United States President Donald Trump. A staff member at Carloway Mill processing and preparing the wool for the weaving of Harris Tweed in Carloway on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, northern Scotland. PHOTO: AFP Tweed has 'modernised', says Mr Cameron MacArthur, who works at Carloway Mill, one of the three spinning mills in the west of the Isle of Lewis. He is only 29, but has already worked there for 12 years. The mill, with its large machines, looks as if it has not changed for decades. But Mr MacArthur has seen it evolve to embrace a younger workforce and newer fabrics, meaning it is no longer just the ultra-classic Prince of Wales chequered pattern or dark colours that are on offer. Harris Tweed stoles displayed at the Isle of Harris Tweed shop in Tarbert, Isle of Harris, in the Outer Hebrides, northern Scotland. The fabric has modernised, and no longer features just the ultra-classic Prince of Wales chequered pattern or dark colours. PHOTO: AFP Coloured wool used for Harris Tweed at Carloway Mill. PHOTO: AFP 'Nowadays, we're allowed to make up our own colours... and we're just doing different things with it, modernising it, making it brighter,' he says, showing off rolls of turquoise blue and fuchsia pink. 'We're so busy... it never used to be like that,' he says, adding that he is 'proud' to be working with the local product. The 'Harris Tweed' stamp – a globe topped with a cross – that certifies the fabric's provenance and authenticity, issued by the Harris Tweed Authority. PHOTO: AFP Ms MacDonald says tweed is an antidote to environment-unfriendly 'fast fashion'. 'How nice to own a product where you can actually look on a map to a tiny island and say, 'That's where my jacket was made.' That's so rare now, and I think people really engaged with that. 'Every stage of the production has to happen here, but from start to finish, it is a really long process. We are the epitome of slow fashion.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
IOL News
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Tweed's youthful makeover resurrects symbol of Scottish heritage
Harris Tweed weaver Alexander MacLeod works behind his weaving loom in his atelier at his home, on the Isle of Scalpay, in the Outer Hebrides, northern Scotland, on April 28, 2025. 'When you see tweed on the catwalks, you'd never think it came from here,' laughs Alexander MacLeod, a 38-year-old former banker, as he sits behind his loom in an old barn on the banks of a loch in Scotland. "When you see tweed on the runway, you don't expect it to come from here," joked 38-year-old former banker Alexander MacLeod as he set up his loom in a converted barn on the shores of a Scottish loch. MacLeod became a weaver two years ago, joining residents on the islands of Lewis and Harris, off Scotland's northwest coast, in helping to rejuvenate the tweed industry after a significant period of decline. "It's a good thing to keep the tradition going," he said. Tweed is a symbol of Scottish heritage and has "always been part of the culture" on the Outer Hebrides, added MacLeod, who hails from the island of Scalpay, which is connected to Harris by a bridge. It's now "an attractive sector to be in", he said. He left the Hebrides for seven years to work in banking but the pull of his roots proved too strong. During the day, McLeod now works for a small local cosmetics company. In the evenings, he puts on a podcast, usually about espionage, and patiently begins to weave. Only the steady hum of his machine disturbs the calm of the old stone barn. Harris tweed, traditionally made from 100 percent wool, is the only fabric protected by a 1993 Act of Parliament. It must be "handwoven 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 weaver spoke of his "satisfaction" once the tweed is finished. The fabric, once associated with the British aristocracy, then goes to the spinning mill for a quality control check, where the slightest flaw is flagged up. Finally, it receives the precious "Harris Tweed" stamp - a globe topped with a cross - certifying the fabric's provenance and authenticity, issued by the Harris Tweed Authority (HTA). The tweed then leaves the island to be purchased by discerning companies abroad, including luxury brands such as Christian Dior, Chanel, and Gucci. Several sneaker brands such as Nike, New Balance, and Converse have also used it for limited edition products. The traditional staples are jackets, caps, and bags, but the fabric can also be used for furniture. There are 140 weavers, according to the HTA, which launched a recruitment campaign in 2023 and offered workshops to learn the trade following a wave of retirements. This know-how, often passed down from generation to generation, is now being nurtured by a different profile of weaver. "It's nice to see younger people coming in," said Kelly MacDonald, director of operations at the HTA. "When I joined the industry 22 years ago, there was a severe period of decline. I was wondering: 'Is there going to be an industry anymore?'" But the industry is now enjoying a "resurgence" and "significant growth", with more than 580 000 metres of tweed produced in 2024. "We are always looking at new markets," she said, and tweed is now exported to Korea, Japan, Germany, France and other countries. It is no longer dependent on the US market, as it once was, and should be largely shielded from the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Tweed has "modernised", said Cameron MacArthur, who works at Carloway Mill, one of the three spinning mills in the west of the Isle of Lewis. He is only 29, but has already worked there for 12 years. The mill, with its large machines, looks as if it hasn't changed for decades. But MacArthur has seen it evolve to embrace a younger workforce and newer fabrics, meaning it is no longer just the ultra-classic Prince of Wales check or dark colours that are on offer. "Nowadays, we're allowed to make up our own colours... and we're just doing different things with it, modernising it, making it brighter," he said, showing off rolls of turquoise blue and fuchsia pink. "We're so busy... it never used to be like that," he said, adding that he was "proud" to be working with the local product. MacDonald said tweed was an antidote to environmentally unfriendly "fast fashion". "How nice to own a product where you can actually look on a map to a tiny island and say, 'That's where my jacket was made.' That's so rare now, and I think people really engaged with that," he said. "Every stage of the production has to happen here, but from start to finish, it is a really long process. We are the epitome of slow fashion." | AFP
Kuwait Times
01-06-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Tweed's youthful makeover resurrects symbol of Scottish heritage
'When you see tweed on the runway, you don't expect it to come from here,' joked 38-year-old former banker Alexander MacLeod as he set up his loom in a converted barn on the shores of a Scottish loch. MacLeod became a weaver two years ago, joining residents on the islands of Lewis and Harris, off Scotland's northwest coast, in helping to rejuvenate the tweed industry after a significant period of decline. 'It's a good thing to keep the tradition going,' he told AFP. Tweed is a symbol of Scottish heritage and has 'always been part of the culture' on the Outer Hebrides, added Macleod, who hails from the island of Scalpay, which is connected to Harris by a bridge. It's now 'an attractive sector to be in', he explained. He left the Hebrides for seven years to work in banking but the pull of his roots proved too strong. During the day, McLeod now works for a small local cosmetics company. In the evenings, he puts on a podcast, usually about espionage, and patiently begins to weave. Only the steady hum of his machine disturbs the calm of the old stone barn. Harris Tweed stoles displayed at the Isle of Harris Tweed shop, in Tarbert, Isle of Harris, in the Outer Hebrides, northern Soctland. Harris Tweed stoles displayed at the Isle of Harris Tweed shop. The weaving tools used by Harris Tweed weaver Alexander MacLeod. Member of staff Shaun Campbell moves rolls of Harris Tweed in the Isle of Harris Tweed shop. Harris Tweed weaver Alexander MacLeod works behind his weaving loom in his atelier at his home. A weaving loom with an under weaving Harris Tweed cloth. Harris Tweed weaver Alexander MacLeod walks outside his atelier at his home. The weaving loom of Harris Tweed weaver Minnie Hooper at the Harris Tweed Authority building. The weaving loom and fabric used by Harris Tweed weaver Minnie Hooper. Blackface sheep and lambs, who's wool is used in Harris Tweed production, look on while grazing the Isle of Harris. Harris tweed, traditionally made from 100 percent wool, is the only fabric protected by a 1993 Act of Parliament. It must be 'handwoven 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'. 'Resurgence' The weaver spoke of his 'satisfaction' once the tweed is finished. The fabric, once associated with the British aristocracy, then goes to the spinning mill for a quality control check, where the slightest flaw is flagged up. Finally, it receives the precious 'Harris Tweed' stamp -- a globe topped with a cross -- certifying the fabric's provenance and authenticity, issued by the Harris Tweed Authority (HTA). The tweed then leaves the island to be purchased by discerning companies abroad, including luxury brands such as Christian Dior, Chanel, and Gucci. Several sneaker brands such as Nike, New Balance, and Converse have also used it for limited edition products. The traditional staples are jackets, caps, and bags, but the fabric can also used for furniture. A member of staff at the Carloway Mill processes and prepares rolls of Harris Tweed the Carloway Mill workshop. The Carloway Mill workshop where Harris Tweed is produced. A member of staff at the Carloway Mill processes and prepares rolls of Harris Tweed the Carloway Mill workshop. A member of staff at the Carloway Mill processes and prepares the wool for the weaving of Harris Tweed the Carloway Mill workshop. Wool used for Harris Tweed displayed in plastic boxes at the Carloway Mill workshop. Spools of wool yarn used for Harris Tweed displayed in plastic boxes at the Carloway Mill workshop. A weaving loom used to weave Harris Tweed at the Carloway Mill workshop. Rolls of Harris Tweed line up at the Carloway Mill workshop. Operations Manager of Harris Tweed Authority Kelly MacDonald poses for pictures behind a weaving loom at her office. There are 140 weavers, according to the HTA, which launched a recruitment campaign in 2023 and offered workshops to learn the trade following a wave of retirements. This know-how, often passed down from generation to generation, is now being nurtured by a different profile of weaver. 'It's nice to see younger people coming in,' said Kelly MacDonald, director of operations at the HTA. 'When I joined the industry 22 years ago, there was a severe period of decline. I was wondering: 'is there going to be an industry anymore?'' But the industry is now enjoying a 'resurgence' and 'significant growth', with more than 580,000 meters of tweed produced in 2024. 'We are always looking at new markets,' she explained, and tweed is now exported to Korea, Japan, Germany, France and other countries. It is no longer dependent on the US market, as it once was, and should be largely shielded from the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
The Star
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Tweed makes a stylish comeback: Classic fabric, but with modern fashion vibes
"When you see tweed on the runway, you don't expect it to come from here," joked 38-year-old former banker Alexander MacLeod as he set up his loom in a converted barn on the shores of a Scottish loch. MacLeod became a weaver two years ago, joining residents on the islands of Lewis and Harris, off Scotland's northwest coast, in helping to rejuvenate the tweed industry after a significant period of decline. "It's a good thing to keep the tradition going," he said. Tweed is a symbol of Scottish heritage and has "always been part of the culture" on the Outer Hebrides, added Macleod, who hails from the island of Scalpay, which is connected to Harris by a bridge. It's now "an attractive sector to be in", he explained. He left the Hebrides for seven years to work in banking but the pull of his roots proved too strong. During the day, McLeod now works for a small local cosmetics company. In the evenings, he puts on a podcast, usually about espionage, and patiently begins to weave. Only the steady hum of his machine disturbs the calm of the old stone barn. Harris tweed, traditionally made from 100 percent wool, is the only fabric protected by a 1993 Act of Parliament. It must be "handwoven 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". Read more: Malaysian fashion designers laud Unesco's official recognition of the kebaya 'Resurgence' The weaver spoke of his "satisfaction" once the tweed is finished. The fabric, once associated with the British aristocracy, then goes to the spinning mill for a quality control check, where the slightest flaw is flagged up. Finally, it receives the precious "Harris Tweed" stamp – a globe topped with a cross – certifying the fabric's provenance and authenticity, issued by the Harris Tweed Authority (HTA). The tweed then leaves the island to be purchased by discerning companies abroad, including luxury brands such as Christian Dior, Chanel, and Gucci. Several sneaker brands such as Nike, New Balance, and Converse have also used it for limited edition products. The traditional staples are jackets, caps, and bags, but the fabric can also used for furniture. There are 140 weavers, according to the HTA, which launched a recruitment campaign in 2023 and offered workshops to learn the trade following a wave of retirements. This know-how, often passed down from generation to generation, is now being nurtured by a different profile of weaver. "It's nice to see younger people coming in," said Kelly MacDonald, director of operations at the HTA. "When I joined the industry 22 years ago, there was a severe period of decline. I was wondering: 'Is there going to be an industry anymore?'" But the industry is now enjoying a "resurgence" and "significant growth", with more than 580,000 metres of tweed produced in 2024. "We are always looking at new markets," she explained, and tweed is now exported to Korea, Japan, Germany, France and other countries. It is no longer dependent on the US market, as it once was, and should be largely shielded from the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Read more: Malaysian fashion designer Fern Chua talks about her 10-year journey with batik Slow fashion Tweed has "modernised", said Cameron MacArthur, who works at Carloway Mill, one of the three spinning mills in the west of the Isle of Lewis. He is only 29, but has already worked there for 12 years. The mill, with its large machines, looks as if it hasn't changed for decades. But MacArthur has seen it evolve to embrace a younger workforce and newer fabrics, meaning it is no longer just the ultra-classic Prince of Wales check or dark colours that are on offer. "Nowadays, we're allowed to make up our own colours... and we're just doing different things with it, modernising it, making it brighter," he said, showing off rolls of turquoise blue and fuchsia pink. "We're so busy... it never used to be like that," he said, adding that he was "proud" to be working with the local product. MacDonald also noted that tweed was an antidote to environmentally unfriendly "fast fashion". "How nice to own a product where you can actually look on a map to a tiny island and say, that's where my jacket was made. That's so rare now, and I think people really engaged with that," he said. "Every stage of the production has to happen here, but from start to finish, it is a really long process. We are the epitome of slow fashion." – AFP
Fashion Network
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
Tweed's youthful makeover resurrects symbol of Scottish heritage
"When you see tweed on the runway, you don't expect it to come from here," joked 38-year-old former banker Alexander MacLeod as he set up his loom in a converted barn on the shores of a Scottish loch. See catwalk MacLeod became a weaver two years ago, joining residents on the islands of Lewis and Harris, off Scotland's northwest coast, in helping to rejuvenate the tweed industry after a significant period of decline. "It's a good thing to keep the tradition going," he told AFP. Tweed is a symbol of Scottish heritage and has "always been part of the culture" on the Outer Hebrides, added MacLeod, who hails from the island of Scalpay, which is connected to Harris by a bridge. It's now "an attractive sector to be in", he said. He left the Hebrides for seven years to work in banking but the pull of his roots proved too strong. During the day, McLeod now works for a small local cosmetics company. In the evenings, he puts on a podcast, usually about espionage, and patiently begins to weave. Only the steady hum of his machine disturbs the calm of the old stone barn. Harris tweed, traditionally made from 100 percent wool, is the only fabric protected by a 1993 Act of Parliament. It must be "handwoven 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 weaver spoke of his "satisfaction" once the tweed is finished. The fabric, once associated with the British aristocracy, then goes to the spinning mill for a quality control check, where the slightest flaw is flagged up. Finally, it receives the precious "Harris Tweed" stamp -- a globe topped with a cross -- certifying the fabric's provenance and authenticity, issued by the Harris Tweed Authority (HTA). The tweed then leaves the island to be purchased by discerning companies abroad, including luxury brands such as Christian Dior, Chanel, and Gucci. Several sneaker brands such as Nike, New Balance, and Converse have also used it for limited edition products. The traditional staples are jackets, caps, and bags, but the fabric can also be used for furniture. There are 140 weavers, according to the HTA, which launched a recruitment campaign in 2023 and offered workshops to learn the trade following a wave of retirements. This know-how, often passed down from generation to generation, is now being nurtured by a different profile of weaver. "It's nice to see younger people coming in," said Kelly MacDonald, director of operations at the HTA. "When I joined the industry 22 years ago, there was a severe period of decline. I was wondering: 'Is there going to be an industry anymore?'" But the industry is now enjoying a "resurgence" and "significant growth", with more than 580,000 metres of tweed produced in 2024. "We are always looking at new markets," she said, and tweed is now exported to Korea, Japan, Germany, France and other countries. It is no longer dependent on the US market, as it once was, and should be largely shielded from the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Tweed has "modernised", said Cameron MacArthur, who works at Carloway Mill, one of the three spinning mills in the west of the Isle of Lewis. He is only 29, but has already worked there for 12 years. The mill, with its large machines, looks as if it hasn't changed for decades. But MacArthur has seen it evolve to embrace a younger workforce and newer fabrics, meaning it is no longer just the ultra-classic Prince of Wales check or dark colours that are on offer. "Nowadays, we're allowed to make up our own colours... and we're just doing different things with it, modernising it, making it brighter," he said, showing off rolls of turquoise blue and fuchsia pink. "We're so busy... it never used to be like that," he said, adding that he was "proud" to be working with the local product. MacDonald said tweed was an antidote to environmentally unfriendly "fast fashion". "How nice to own a product where you can actually look on a map to a tiny island and say, 'That's where my jacket was made.' That's so rare now, and I think people really engaged with that," he said. "Every stage of the production has to happen here, but from start to finish, it is a really long process. We are the epitome of slow fashion."
