Anyone been to the Outer Hebrides (Lewis, Harris)? Harris Tweed sources?

[M. Charles]

Has anyone visited the Outer Hebrides (Lewis, Harris)? Is it possible to buy Harris Tweed cloth directly from smaller mills or individuals post-Haggis? Any other info would be helpful.

 

[Kentishman]

'Haggas'; I wouldn't travel there and get that wrong if I was you...

 

[M. Charles]

Originally Posted by Kentishman

'Haggas'; I wouldn't travel there and get that wrong if I was you...

well, as haggis is defined as "a dish consisting of sheep's of calf's offal mixed with suet and boiled in a bag, traditionally one made from the animal's stomach," I should think there is no distinction between haggis the food and Haggas the bastard.

 

[fox81]

start here. they can help you

http://www.harristweed.org/

 

[Kentishman]

^ That's the main corporation though, isn't it? OP wanted to buy from the smaller, independent mills that are often small, family run operations.

 

[academe]

I haven't been to Lewis personally but have ordered Lewis and Harris tweeds from an artisanal weaver on Lewis:

http://www.buttoflewistextiles.co.uk/

Nice stuff!

 

[fox81]

Originally Posted by Kentishman

^ That's the main corporation though, isn't it? OP wanted to buy from the smaller, independent mills that are often small, family run operations.

no, this is the body that certify a mill as making harris tweed. they list the 3 mills making harris tweed. one being haggas.
only those certified by that harristweed.org can carry the harris tweed orb/globe

no doubt they will know of other mills that dont strictly make harris tweed.

 

[MacDaddy]

My family moved to the Isle of Barra about 1000 years ago,in 1049,and I have hundreds of relatives still living there,but most of them speak only Gaelic.I had a cousin visit several times and he brought fabric with him each time,but I haven't seen him since 1972.I had another cousin come over in 1984 and I kept in touch with him via snail mail until sometime in the 1990's.He did mention that relatives have been hand weaving for hundreds of years,unfortunately I wasn't very interested at the time.I'll see what I can find out,I've actually been wondering about it myself.

 

[Kentishman]

Originally Posted by fox81

no, this is the body that certify a mill as making harris tweed. they list the 3 mills making harris tweed. one being haggas.
only those certified by that harristweed.org can carry the harris tweed orb/globe

no doubt they will know of other mills that dont strictly make harris tweed.

Ah, I see - I understand now!

 

[M. Charles]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy

My family moved to the Isle of Barra about 1000 years ago,in 1049,and I have hundreds of relatives still living there,but most of them speak only Gaelic.I had a cousin visit several times and he brought fabric with him each time,but I haven't seen him since 1972.I had another cousin come over in 1984 and I kept in touch with him via snail mail until sometime in the 1990's.He did mention that relatives have been hand weaving for hundreds of years,unfortunately I wasn't very interested at the time.I'll see what I can find out,I've actually been wondering about it myself.

Very interesting. I'd appreciate any info you can find out from them.

 

[Eustace Tilley]

Originally Posted by academe

I haven't been to Lewis personally but have ordered Lewis and Harris tweeds from an artisanal weaver on Lewis:

http://www.buttoflewistextiles.co.uk/

Nice stuff!

+10 for Callum from BOL Textiles. His BOL tweed is pretty nice as well. A couple of pics of the Harris:

 

[Wes Bourne]

Originally Posted by academe

I haven't been to Lewis personally but have ordered Lewis and Harris tweeds from an artisanal weaver on Lewis:

http://www.buttoflewistextiles.co.uk/

Nice stuff!

Are the prices listed there typical for that kind of cloth? Seems like they're almost giving the stuff away, especially given the supposed artisanal nature of Harris Tweed.

 

[Eustace Tilley]

Originally Posted by Wes Bourne

Are the prices listed there typical for that kind of cloth? Seems like they're almost giving the stuff away, especially given the supposed artisanal nature of Harris Tweed.

BOL is certainly cheaper than most other sources, but you are buying direct from a one-man operation. And Harris has never been an expensive cloth to begin with.

Also, keep in mind its single-width stuff. So you need 5m for a sportcoat.

The quality is excellent.

 

[Wes Bourne]

Originally Posted by Eustace Tilley

BOL is certainly cheaper than most other sources, but you are buying direct from a one-man operation. And Harris has never been an expensive cloth to begin with.

Also, keep in mind its single-width stuff. So you need 5m for a sportcoat.

The quality is excellent.

Are all Harris Tweeds the same (single) width and of similar quality? If so, then there is a considerable price difference with Hardy Harris Tweed.

 

[Eustace Tilley]

Originally Posted by Wes Bourne

Are all Harris Tweeds the same (single) width and of similar quality? If so, then there is a considerable price difference with Hardy Harris Tweed.

I doubt if they're all of the same quality, but I can attest to the quality of the BOL goods. I do believe all Harris Tweeds are single widths, but Minnis' price is effectively for 2m of the single width (I think, but am unsure, that when you order 1m from them, they send you 2m of the 78cm width tweed - that's the way Harrisons does it).

Damn, overate again tonight - feel unwell