Harris Tweed and the Isle of Harris
Posted on July 17, 2008
Filed Under Holidays |
While Scotland is only a small nation with an historically small population the influence of the Scots upon the world of today is disproportional. Throughout history a disproportionate number of Scottish men and women have played incredibly important roles in the history of the vast majority of countries of the world. From the Founding Fathers to American Presidents, British Prime Ministers to the great many explorers and missionaries the Scottish have help shape modern society. However Scotland is most widely known for it’s tartan, Harris Tweed, bagpipes and the likes.
Strangely much of what we consider to be traditionally Scottish, such as Harris Tweed and tartan is something of a Victorian invention created by the likes of Sir Walter Scott. Scott wrote incredible novels which romanticized Scotland and went to great lengths to introduce the British Royal Family to the country they ruled. Queen Victoria fell in love with Scotland and spent much of her life at Balmoral. Throughout her rule new tartan patterns were developed and much of the traditional Scotland we know today grew from this time.
It could be said that Sir Walter Scott and Queen Victoria created the Scottish tourism industry. Although there had been earlier visitors to Scotland they were few and far between as the country was remote and communication links were poor. Throughout the Victorian period interest in Scotland grew and, with the advent of railway systems, Scotland became the playground of the upper classes who indulged in hunting, fishing and golf.
To this day the railways have not reached the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides and few in the Victorian era visited this remote island. However, in 1844, the Earl of Dunmore asked the weavers of the island to create a cloth for him. His wife encouraged the weavers to create other patterns and did much to promote the product. Due to the incredible properties of the cloth, Harris Tweed, it was the perfect material for the sporting clothes of the new visitors and very quickly it became the choice cloth of the upper classes.
Hand made from local wool and colored using unique natural dyes there were few other materials that could compete. However it was not to last as cheaper materials became available from abroad. At an early stage the weavers of Harris ensured that only cloth produced in the Outer Hebrides could bear the name “Harris Tweed” and this has meant that the material is still produced today.
In many ways Harris Tweed has remained a popular material with many and the typical Harris Tweed jacket still sells extremely well. In recent years use of the material has diversified greatly and has been used in high fashion on a number of occasions. It is now possible to find a wide selection of product made from it and companies, such as Nike, have recognized it’s qualities and used it in their products.
In recent decades the Isle of Harris has seem a massive increase in the number of people visiting the island and tourism is now a major element of the local economy. Traditionally there have been summer and winter industries in the Hebrides and the production of Harris Tweed has always had a vital role. Unfortunately in the last few years the tweed industry has been in crisis and, at this moment, it is in something of a state of flux with the main mill closing. There is little doubt it will still be produced but the future is uncertain.
The Isle of Harris has plenty to entertain the visitor though most arrive with the sole intention of relaxing. Of course the unique landscape, fantastic beaches and seascapes, are world renowned but many now visit to trace their family roots, enjoy sports competitions, attend Gaelic and Celtic music gatherings and many, many other reasons. You will be glad to hear that getting to the Isle of Harris is far easier than during the Victorian era. Today there are regular flights to Stornoway on the adjoining Isle of Lewis but the vast majority arrive by ferry from the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides (which is now joined to Scotland by a bridge).
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