How to wear Harris Tweed in the Spring/Summer

DON'T put your Harris Tweed clothes away yet!

Eager as we all might be to fling off our coats and jackets with this recent increase in temperature, the reality is that even spring weather can remain unpredictable (we do live in the UK after all). 

A tweed jacket is a wardrobe staple that instantly pulls together a look and adds a bit of polish and sophistication. Tweed may be a fabric traditionally associated with the cooler winter months, but Harris Tweed is long lasting and will serve you well into the spring and beyond. Not to meant you will bring a ladylike look to the streets compared to the many streetwear-infused and fast-fashion collections. 

You could go light and choose a tweed jacket in a lighter colour than you would normally wear and then wear it with complementary shades OR if you are feeling ready to push the boundaries (it is Spring after all) then try out a brighter colour or striking pattern. Our Melanie jacket in 1702 might just be for you! Not forgetting about you men out there. Pair you tweed jacket with a pair of jeans and a light shirt for a smart casual look. 

Maybe you still aren't convince about wearing a Harris Tweed jacket this spring/summer, so why not wear a tweed gilet? It is a wonderful way to add an extra layer for warmth against that cold British wind. We have a wide range of colours available in our gilets here at Glenalmond Tweed, why not take a look? Or even better maybe you already have one and are ready to rock it this Spring/Summer! 

And for you men out there we've got you covered as well. Why not wear a khyber waistcoat? Similarly to the gilet it will add an extra layer to help protect you from the cold UK wind on these rare warm days while also making you look smart. If you don't already have one (you are missing out) then take a look at our range!

Hats add that final flourish to an outfit and a tweed hat/cap will definitely suit many occasions. Wear your tweed hat with slim jeans, shirt and a waistcoat to create that country chic style. You even see style icons such as Idris Elba and David Beckham wearing flat caps now-a-days (who says flat caps are out?!). Not to mention they also offer great protection against the UK's spring/summer elements. At Glenalmond Tweed we offer a large range of styles and colours for both men and women. 

Hopefully you are now feeling inspired to get your Harris Tweed clothes back out or even buy new ones! Please send in any photos of you wearing your Glenalmond Tweed items to erin@glenalmond.com or tags us on social media!

A trip to the Hebrides

Sally and Andrews Trip to the Outer Hebrides 

Sally and Andrew recently went on a trip to the Outer Hebrides on the hunt for new Harris Tweed for out A/W 2018 collection. They certainly did not pick the best time as they battled against the stormy winds, but they did manage to get some great photos that really show the beauty and culture of the Outer Hebrides and capture what the inside of a Harris Tweed Mill is like. 

While looking for new Harris Tweed, Sally and Andrew visited Harris Tweed Hebrides, the largest mill in the Outer Hebrides. In the pattern room there were rolls of tweed, from plaids to herringbones to plains, piled on top of one another - enough tweed to last a person a life time! The weavers were also working full pelt processing the wool on their huge machines to get the tweed ready for shipping. 

In the pictures to the left and right you can see all the colourful yarns in the Harris Tweed Hebrides mill.

This is where the journey of Harris Tweed begins, as these yarns are combined together to create the beautiful final pieces of tweed that we see here everyday.

Although the purpose of the trip was to look for new tweeds, Sally and Andrew couldn't help but explore but you can't blame them, can you?! 

Even in the spring the winds were still unimaginable. At certain times Sally felt like she was going to be blown away and found it difficult to walk. The sheep on the Island did not share the same opinion as Sally about the wind as they grazed away peacefully, acting unaware of the weather.

However, this scarecrow felt the same as Sally and was blown off his chair! 

Despite the harsh winds Sally and Andrew loved their trip and it reminded them of how beautiful the Outer Hebrides really is. It only seems natural that such an incredible fabric should come from one of the most beautiful places in the world.

There is so much history and culture to be found on the Outer Hebrides, it is a trip we at Glenalmond Tweed recommend everyone to take!

Harris Tweed: Frequently Asked Questions

At Glenalmond we receive a number of questions about our Harris Tweed fabrics, so we have put together a question and answer guide which answers these questions.

What makes Harris Tweed special?

Harris Tweed is loved around the world for its distinctive character that makes it unlike any other fabric. The recognisable quality of Harris Tweed is inspired by the wild nature of the islands where it is woven. 

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The material was designed to be hard-wearing and protective to withstand the harsh elements on the islands"

In fact it is so unique that the fabric is a protected brand and the first registered British Trademark. Guidelines state that the fabric can only be woven in the cottages of the Islanders on the Isle of Harris. These guidelines and the iconic orb symbol protect the band and the weavers creating the Tweed.

Over the centuries a wonderful heritage of patterns and natural colourways have evolved and woven in the distinctively coarse yarns which makes Harris Tweed so long lasting. The beautiful colours and weaves developed over the years have been fashioned in to a number of items and you can see at Glenalmond Tweed we pride ourselves in only using Harris Tweed to make our lovely items of clothing and accessories. 

Are certain weights better than others?

At Glenalmond Tweed when designing our garments we ensure the chosen tweed is the appropriate weight for that particular garment type. The weight of the tweed chosen is dependent on what purpose the piece will serve. Below is details on what weights are available. 

Heavy: 500g-600g.

This weight is ideal for outdoor garments and is typically used by estate workers and gamekeepers. However sport enthusiasts will also use this for walking through heather or stalking on hills and require thick material to do so. 

Medium: 300g-400g

Here at Glenalmond Tweed most items of clothing and accessories are made from medium weight tweed as it is more versatile weight. Since this weight is less firm in comparison to the heavy weight, it allows for the fabric to drape and flatter the body. Medium weight tweed mainly used fort producing trousers, skirts, jackets and lighter coats. If your feeling creative it can even used for upholstery and curtains!

Light: 250g-320g

A light weight tweed is usually used to produce everyday garments such as shirts, lighter trousers and jackets but it particularly used for three-piece suits. However, it can be used for field sports during the warmer sessions. At Glenalmond Tweed we stock some lightweight items and tweeds. 

How to do I look after my Harris Tweed?

Harris Tweed is made from Pure New Wool, so it is best to wash clothing as little as possible in order to keep their original look and feel. The best possible recommendation Glenalmond Tweed can make is to dry clean your Harris Tweed clothing or even give it a brush to get mud off!

Where is our Harris Tweed sourced?

We work with a range of mills to produce our tweed, all from the Outer Hebrides. The mills we work closely with are Kenneth Mackenzie Ltd, The Carloway Mill and Harris Tweed Hebrides (HTH). All mills do an fantastic job in creating our unique designs that are exclusive to Glenalmond Tweed and producing quality Harris Tweed.

Watch this space for our next blog on Sally and Andrew's trip to the Hebrides on the hunt for new Harris Tweed fabric!

Summer Update

This is a busy time of year for us at Glenalmond Tweed. We have been at several shows including the Royal Highland Show, the Scottish Game Fair and BBC Countryfile Live earlier in the season.

In August we even managed to fit in a photoshoot with our new designs that will feature in our soon to arrive catalogue. In the meantime you can visit our website to view the new collection with fabulous new Harris Tweeds for our womens and mens clothing as well as our classic Harris Tweed handbags and luggage.
 

 

Elsewhere in the UK on the Hebrides, Lewis’s first Harris Tweed bike ride was held in the beginning of August. The event formed part of Stornoway-based An Laantair Arts Centre Harris Tweed Festival Day of 13 August 2016. Harris Tweed bike rides involve riders wearing head-to-toe tweed and are held all over the world, including in England, Russia and Japan. The Stornoway occasion offered a Tour de France-style yellow jersey to the first rider to finish the journey.

At the end of August we journeyed up to the stunning grounds of Blair Castle,on the edge of Blair Atholl, for the Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair.

 

 

Come early September it was time to hit the road for the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials which took place on 1^st to the 4^th. As usual the event was a thrill for competitors and spectators alike with Australian rider Christopher Burton wining the coveted Land Rover Burghely title. On the retail therapy side of things we presented our new collection which went down a storm. On our stand a lovely collection of Harris Tweed Jackets could be found as well as the new Camilla Coat and our collection of British made Bags and Luggage.

 

Last weekend we attended the Goodwood Revival in Chichester,  the only motor racing event to be staged entirely in period dress. Vintage fashion enthusiasts hit the grandstands in 40s, 50s and 60s attire and a good time was had by all.

As we move into the Autumn Winter season Harris Tweed continues to get attention in the media, 'Harris Tweed is back on the wanted list' writes Tessa Waugh in the September Issue of Country Life Magazine. Sustainability and durability are some of the unique qualities of Harris Tweed which add to its timeless appeal as a Winter wardrobe staple. We would argue that it can be worn all year round however we are based on the side of a hill in Scotland...

At HQ our Perthshire Emporium continued to attract visitors from around the world as well as a few canine friends, meet part time assistants Kiki and Snuffles.

 
To view our new collection please visit our website. The new catalogue will be out in October. If you would like to be sent one please email info@glenalmond.com with your name and address.

 

June 2016 Update

 

We have been working on our new Harris Tweed collection for Autumn/Winter as well as an exciting new linen range for Spring 2017 (watch this space!).

 

 

On the weekend of the 10th of July we attended the first Field & Country Fair held at Cornbury Park near Charlbury. This was a fabulous event in a very beautiful setting.

 

We took along our range of Harris Tweed clothes for men and women as well as our range of cushions and the original collection of Harris Tweed bags and luggage. 

 

There has been an increase in interest in Harris Tweed by the metre for clothing and upholstery. Harris Tweed makes for an excellent upholstery material with the end result being hardwearing and very smart. It also makes lovely cushions and curtains. Unfortunately we do not offer the cloth online but are more than happy to help via phone 01738 880 322 or email info@glenalmond.com 

 

We will be at the following events over the summer:

 

Royal Highland Show 23rd - 26th August

 Scottish Game Fair at Scone Palace 1st - 3rd July

BBC Countryfile Live held at Blenheim Palace 4th - 7th August

Blair Horse Trials  25th - 28th August

The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 1st - 4th September

Goodwood Revival 9th -11th September

  

 

We have welcomed a lot of visitors to our Perthshire shop in the last few weeks including Toby the Labrador who was very at home :)

 

To view our Harris Tweed collection visit our website or request a catalogue by emailing us at info@glenalmond.com

 

 

Ladies Harris Tweed Collection for AW 15/16

 

Welcome to our new Harris Tweed Collection for this Winter. With several new styles of Ladies Coats and Jackets in a variety of vibrant Harris Tweeds, there is something for everyone. Here are a few of our top styles for this year, for the full collection please visit our website.

 

 

Country Coat £249

 

With a relaxed shape and plenty of room for a jumper, the Country Coat is the perfect Harris Tweed Coat for a walk in the country. It is available in a subtle green tweed with a pale red over check. The Country Coat has been redesigned this year with additional hand warmer pockets.

Hacking Jacket £220

New for this year the Hacking Jacket is offered a versatile Navy tweed (shown above). With a flattering fitted shape and velvet details this jacket is smart and easy to wear.

 

 

Joanna Coat £245

The Joanna Coat is available in a striking burgundy checked Harris Tweed. It is a beautifully cut elegant short Harris Tweed coat with a Nehru style velvet lined collar and side splits at the hem.



Gilet £169

 



Our ever popular  Harris Tweed Gilet is the ideal garment to throw on to add warmth and style to any outfit. The gilet features a fitted shape and bias cut pockets.

 

 

We also have new hats & caps, accessories, bags and luggage. To view the full collection please visit our new website. 

 

For all catalogue requests please email Emma - emma@glenalmond.com

 

Summer Update

We have been getting underway with the show season with stands at Badminton Horse Trials, The Royal Highland Show, Hopetoun Horse Trials and The Scottish Game Fair.

Glenalmond Tweed at Hopetoun

Our friend Inge and Emma wearing Ella Waistcoats.

Glenalmond Tweed at the Scottish Game Fair

Next up we have Burghley Horse Trials so come and visit us if you will be at the show. In the meantime we are working on our new collection. Just a few weeks to go until we have new Harris Tweed jackets, coats, bags, cushions and more. Watch this space...

See our website for the current range.