Concern Over Harris Tweed Changes

by liamssoft | May 28, 2007 at 10:37 pm

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For centuries the islanders of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra have woven this magnificent cloth the world knows as Harris Tweed, Clo Mhor in the original Gaelic- 'The big cloth'.

New production plans for Harris Tweed have caused concern within the traditional cloth industry.

The bulk of the Harris Tweed trade is now controlled by Yorkshire businessman Brian Haggas.

He plans to use production almost exclusively to make upmarket men's jackets and cut the number of tweed patterns to only five.

Islanders have welcomed his investment but they are concerned about a scheme to restrict sales and patterns.

This is causing concern for weavers like Callum Maclean.

He said: "This is all new. It has not been tried before. In the past customers have ordered tweed and they have been given what they have asked for.

"To throw everything aside and say 'we are not going to make tweeds for any customers from now on, just tweeds being woven to make jackets with one company, with just five patterns', that is of great concern for us."