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!