Harris Tweed

“Harris Tweed means a tweed which has been hand woven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the islands of Harris, Lewis, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra and their several purtenances (The Outer Hebrides) and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides.”

That is the official definition of Harris Tweed as set by British law in 1993. Over the years this definition has changed, as production methods have changed.

The Outer Hebrides has a long history of weaving cloth. Before the turn of the 20th century, this cloth was made almost entirely by hand, using the wool from sheep grown on the islands. Production was quite small, but in the early days of the new century the Industrial Revolution reached the islands and new weaving, spinning, and carding machines were introduced. Output of Hebrides Island tweeds was greatly increased.

In 1906 the Harris Tweed Association was organized for the purpose of establishing a trademark for the growing industry. Starting in 1911 these tweeds were labeled with the symbol of the Harris Tweed Association — an orb with a Maltese cross with the words “Harris Tweed.”

By the 1930s the output of tweed required a greater source of wool, so the original definition was expanded in 1934 to include wool that was produced in Scotland. This, however, led to some mainland companies labeling their product as Harris Tweed. The matter was ended in 1964 when the courts declared that the manufacturing process must be done completely within the Outer Hebrides in order for it to be called “Harris Tweed.”

Written by fuzzylizzie with special thanks to Ken at Aero for additional label information.

See Harris Tweed from VFG members on Etsy (paid link)

from an early-1930s coat

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from a 1940s suit

Courtesy of Jackie Kwasigroh

from a late-1930s/early-1940s women’s coat. This label ran from 1934 to late 1939/early 1940

Courtesy of Tottie Willoughby

from a 1940s CC41 women’s coat. Font color changed to black to show respect for the many Islanders who lost their lives in WW2

Courtesy of stellarosevintage

from a 1950s coat

Courtesy of morning-glorious

from a 1950s men’s coat

Courtesy of EndlessAlley

from a 1950s coat

Courtesy of EndlessAlley

from a 1950s jacket

Courtesy of metroretrovintage

from a 1950s overcoat

Courtesy of amandainvermont

from a late-1950s/early-1960s coat

Courtesy of borntoolatevintage

from a late 1950s/early-1960s coat

Courtesy of borntoolatevintage

from a 1960s jacket

Courtesy of thevintagepeddler

from a 1975-1985 garment

Courtesy of borntoolatevintage

from a 1980s sport coat, 1983 label

Courtesy of EndlessAlley