Tweed and the Isle of Harris

by: AngusMacleod
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Word Count: 652

While Scotland is only a small nation with an historically small population the influence of the Scots upon the world of today is disproportional. Throughout history a disproportionate number of Scottish men and women have played incredibly important roles in the history of the vast majority of countries of the world. From the Founding Fathers to American Presidents, British Prime Ministers to the great many explorers and missionaries the Scottish have help shape modern society. However Scotland is most widely known for it's tartan, Harris Tweed, bagpipes and the likes.

Strangely much of what we consider to be traditionally Scottish, such as Harris Tweed and tartan is something of a Victorian invention created by the likes of Sir Walter Scott. Scott wrote incredible novels which romanticized Scotland and went to great lengths to introduce the British Royal Family to the country they ruled. Queen Victoria fell in love with Scotland and spent much of her life at Balmoral. Throughout her rule new tartan patterns were developed and much of the traditional Scotland we know today grew from this time.

Sir Walter Scott stimulated the Royal Family's interest in Scotland who, in turn caused the English upper classes to become interested. During the reign of Queen Victoria Scotland became more accessible through the building of railway lines and it was not long before the upper classes of England began to visit. Indulging in the pursuits of hunting and fishing these early tourists did much to start the Scottish tourist industry.

While virtually all of the Victorian tourists wore Harris Tweed few visited the island which produced it. The Isle of Harris is a remote island in the Outer Hebrides and it was there, in 1844 that, under instruction of the Earl of Dunmore, the local weavers first produced the incredibly hard wearing material. Such were the qualities of the cloth, and the promotional work of Lady Dunmore, that it quickly became the height of fashion.

Hand made from local wool and colored using unique natural dyes there were few other materials that could compete. However it was not to last as cheaper materials became available from abroad. At an early stage the weavers of Harris ensured that only cloth produced in the Outer Hebrides could bear the name "Harris Tweed" and this has meant that the material is still produced today.

In recent years there has been renewed interest in this unique material. It has, at various times, made appearances on the catwalks of the world's fashion centers and many still prefer it over other materials. It is still common to see men dressed in a Harris Tweed jacket but use of the material has, most recently, been much more diverse. Not too long ago Nike made a very large order for the material and produced a pair of shoes using it which proved very successful, even though they were often difficult to find.

The Isle of Harris has, for many years now, seen an incredible increase in the number of visitors which continues to grow each year. In fact tourism now accounts for a major part of the Hebrides economy and it vital to the future of these unique islands. However the Harris Tweed industry has, very recently, hit something of a crisis point as the main mill has closed. Though the local Council and other bodies will be working hard to find a solution the future of this important industry is in a state of flux.

There is plenty to attract the visitor to the Isle of Harris, the rich Gaelic culture, the incredible number of archaeological sites, the unique flora and fauna and, last but not least, some of the most astounding landscapes to be seen in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Getting there is now easier than ever and while there are airports most travel by road across to the Isle of Skye and then by ferry to the village of Tarbert or Lochmaddy in Uist.

About the Author

Why not visit the island and stay in a hotel on the Isle of Harris or in Harris bed and breakfast?  

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