The Making of Harris Tweed

**Lallans** · 19th March 10, 10:05 AM

Following the sad news about Mr Fess Parker, I seem to be on a grade-school nostalgia trip today, but now I'm reminded of a story we practiced reading aloud on in those years: it was about a crofter family weaving Harris Tweed for the Prince of Wales- at the end of the process they all sat in a circle and tossed the fabric back and forth (or something, hey I was about 8), spending some several hours to soften it. That was one of the two British-based stories they exposed us to in elementary (grammar) school that was set anywhere north of London and perhaps for that reason it instilled in me a life-long respect for Harris Tweed. Whatever, I'll wager that degree of hand crafting is no longer practiced but it's a wonderful product. And it's been VERY hard to find since recent developments in Scotland.

**Nick Fiddes** · 19th March 10, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Canuck of NI

And it's been VERY hard to find since recent developments in Scotland.

One of the saddest aspects of our trip was discovering the overwhelming absence of good places to buy Harris Tweed on the islands themselves. This really brought home the catastrophic cultural effect of Mr Haggis' folly on the local area.

For example, in the centre of Stornoway (the capital) itself, we found just a couple of places selling a scattering of items. But the main Harris Tweed specialist outlet closed when its supplies dried up, and has yet to be replaced now that independent producers are again starting to be able to supply. In Tarbert we found a good shop, with a good range of local products, and vast stocks of fabric for sale. But then we realised that here was just the remnants of one of the old mills driven out of business by the changes, and their business was mostly just an unsustainable clearance of stocks from a once-prosperous industry. Really sad.

So we're intending to make a big push to do our bit to get Harris Tweed back into circulation again. This isn't just a business thing for me. It's hopefully helping to preserve a wonderful tradition and a way of life. That's may sound corny, but it happens to be true.

**Lallans** · 19th March 10, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Nick (Scotweb)

So we're intending to make a big push to do our bit to get Harris Tweed back into circulation again. This isn't just a business thing for me. It's hopefully helping to preserve a wonderful tradition and a way of life. That's may sound corny, but it happens to be true.

I'll certainly do my part. My credit cards are set at 'ready'.