Harris Tweed, a famous British brand

Recently, in shops around Osaka and elsewhere in this part of Japan, the Harris Tweed label can be seen on a range of items from hats and wallets to bags and even headphones. But what do you know about this venerable British brand?

Harris Tweed originates from the islands of the Outer Hebrides (or the Western Isles) of Scotland; Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra, which are roughly 300 kilometres from Edinburgh. The cloth was originally produced for the islanders but in 1846 a local dignitary, Lady Dunmore, began to devote her time to marketing the tweed to her wealthy friends across mainland Scotland.

In 1909 the Harris Tweed Association Limited registered the Orb and Maltese cross trademark stamp that we see on products today.

Over the decades, Harris Tweed clothing has been embraced by people all over the world; from royalty to celebrities, from Hollywood movie stars to Mt. Everest mountaineers and now the discerning shoppers of Kansai appear to have fallen in love with the stylish, durable, timeless fabric.

For more information have a look at the company’s website.