Harris tweed is rough and thick and is woven on a cold island on old machines. Suddenly it is once again one of the most sought-after fabrics in the world

Harris tweed is the only handmade fabric sold in commercial quantities

At the age of five, at the peak of tweed in the sixties, Iain Martin began spooling yarn, two hours before and two hours after school. As a teenager he began to weave himself

The yarn must be spun on Lewis and Harris, the tweed must be woven by local weavers, in their private homes - and also finished here

The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world. There is no major manufacturer that produces in a truly sustainable way, and hardly any protected terms in the industry, neither "organic" or "eco" has to be sustainable in any way, nor does "Egyptian cotton" have to be from Egypt. That's why Harris tweed is unique in the world. The term is protected, with strict specifications for sourcing, production, distribution

For about seven years, weavers have been experiencing a boost. Their fabric is suddenly appearing in haute couture brands like Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel

Nike became interested in the fabric in 2003 and ordered 20,000 meters for a sneaker

F.A.Z. Quarterly
Issue 1/2021

Photo Editor:
Maria Leutner