Good deal on Harris tweed...

[frank_a]

I watched a video or two about Haggas, and what happened to the tweed industry as a result, and the subsequent independent production. I may have been directed to them from links here, I don't remember. I am so glad that the consortium bought that old mill and are back at it.

Frank

[Grizzly]

Harris Tweed remains a wonderful cloth with a highly protected manufacturing process. The cloth itself is expensive but as long as the weavers are being properly supported then where the cloth goes should not matter - but in 2006 the whole industry nearly died because of a buy out of the major mill by a Yorkshire Businessman, Brian Haggas, who switched the production to only 4 patterns of cloth and made a fixed range of jackets with the cloth. The weavers went from boom to bust inside a year because of his business model. But the company are, I understand, still selling their jackets.

Fortunately for Harris Tweed, Brian Haggas did not get to take over the whole of production and some independent production continued. A consortium bought and brought back an old mill and production of the beautiful diversity of the Tweed has been allowed to flourish, thanks in particular to fashion users like Patrick Grant and finding new markets for tweed (like car interiors).

If you can get a deal on a Tweed jacket - Great! But I would hate to see another debacle through production of a limited range of tweed for 'cheap' jackets which risked the loss of the wider range of cloth production.

Well said Harvey. Harris tweed is a unique cloth traditionally made from dyes extracted from local Hebridean plants and with wool from the local sheep. It would be an absolute tragedy if this artisan product were to be swallowed up by large conglomerates.

[CMcG]

...
And for all y'all that got your tweed jacket for a "dollar-ninety-eight, down the street", you're either easy to fit or damn lucky. Perhaps both, but my money's on the latter. <wink>

I'm of fairly average build for a young man, which means there is competition for my size from all the other tag-popping hipsters out there, so I'll go with luck too The jacket I picked up appears to have had the cuffs shortened, however, and I'll have to have them let out a wee bit. Still a good deal though!

Incidentally, my day wear kilt jacket is also Harris tweed. I got it on eBay for £50 (including shipping), though it too required a bit of alteration. Really lovely fabric... I can't get enough!

[tpa]

I have been browsing the Muldoons link that CameronCat posted, looking at the regular sizes. I must say, I like the cut and style of the jackets, but I am confused by something. Take this rather beautiful item as an example:

http://www.muldoons.com/Harris-Tweed...IIMAIP/Product

If you read the description it says that it is Harris Tweed and it also says it is made in China.
The quoted prices are not dissimilar to a tailored Harris Tweed jacket made in Scotland. I have not seen their jackets to be able to read the labels and am wondering if this is simply a mistake on the part of the store.

It also says: " dyed, spun and finished in the western isles of Scotland and hand woven by crofters in their own homes on the islands of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra."

Definitely confusing.

[ASinclair]

It also says: " dyed, spun and finished in the western isles of Scotland and hand woven by crofters in their own homes on the islands of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra."

Definitely confusing.

The Harris Tweed cloth can be made into a jacket somewhere else, like China. I have two Harris Tweed jackets that were made in the USA.