Tweed and the Isle of Harris
Author: AngusMacLeod Total views: 13 Word Count: 664
Scotland is only a small country in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. For much of it's history the nation and it's people have been incredibly poor but from this impoverished society some of the most influential people came forth to make their mark upon our world. There are few countries in the world that have not been directly influenced by the hands of the Scottish but few consider this when asked to think of Scotland and most of us would rather bring to mind the likes of Tartan and Harris Tweed.
It can be said that most people think that Harris Tweed and tartan are very ancient but the sad truth is that they are fairly recent developments which only date back to Victorian times. Sir Walter Scott, the famous author, and others helped to create a wonderful image of a romantic Scotland which Queen Victoria fell in love with. Though tartan patterns date from this period the "traditional Scottish" created by Scott was heavily influenced by Highland culture.
Sir Walter Scott stimulated the Royal Family's interest in Scotland who, in turn caused the English upper classes to become interested. During the reign of Queen Victoria Scotland became more accessible through the building of railway lines and it was not long before the upper classes of England began to visit. Indulging in the pursuits of hunting and fishing these early tourists did much to start the Scottish tourist industry.
While virtually all of the Victorian tourists wore Harris Tweed few visited the island which produced it. The Isle of Harris is a remote island in the Outer Hebrides and it was there, in 1844 that, under instruction of the Earl of Dunmore, the local weavers first produced the incredibly hard wearing material. Such were the qualities of the cloth, and the promotional work of Lady Dunmore, that it quickly became the height of fashion.
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 recent years there has been renewed interest in this unique material. It has, at various times, made appearances on the catwalks of the world's fashion centers and many still prefer it over other materials. It is still common to see men dressed in a Harris Tweed jacket but use of the material has, most recently, been much more diverse. Not too long ago Nike made a very large order for the material and produced a pair of shoes using it which proved very successful, even though they were often difficult to find.
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.
People visit the Isle of Harris and the Outer Hebrides for a great many reasons. Some visit to trace their family roots, others to indulge in sports, some to enjoy the Gaelic culture, some to study the flora and fauna, or the many archaeological sites but most of all people visit to take in the spectacular countryside. Getting to the Isle of Harris is something of a journey by car with the last leg of the trip being a short ferry crossing. However you can get there quickly via regular flights arriving on the adjoining Isle of Lewis.
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Why not visit the island and stay in a hotel on the Isle of Harris or in Harris bed and breakfast?
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