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!

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.