The Isle of Harris and Tweed
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.
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.
The role of Queen Victoria (and Sir Walter Scott) in the development of the Scottish tourist industry can not be overstated. While the Queen’s interest stimulated interest by the English upper classes it was not really until the development of the railways in Scotland that they began to visit the country. When the railways opened up Scotland the country quickly became the playground of the rich who enjoyed the pleasures of fishing and hunting.
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.
Harris Tweed is heavily protected, it can only be produced in the Outer Hebrides and the methods used to make it have changed little over the centuries. The cloth is hand made and was used local wool, colored using dyes made from locally occurring plants. The cloth was incredibly tough and it was a long time before other products from abroad encroached into it’s markets however the industry eventually decreased.
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.
The Isle of Harris has, for many years now, seen an incredible increase in the number of visitors which continues to grow each year. In fact tourism now accounts for a major part of the Hebrides economy and it vital to the future of these unique islands. However the Harris Tweed industry has, very recently, hit something of a crisis point as the main mill has closed. Though the local Council and other bodies will be working hard to find a solution the future of this important industry is in a state of flux.
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).
Why not visit the island and stay in a hotel on the Isle of Harris or in Harris bed and breakfast?
Tags: harris tweed, highland culture, Isle of Harris and Tweed, romantic scotland
