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!
