Sometimes it can take a while to 'find' the right agency for you, and at times it may be that you have to representative several companies over a period of time to find the right one for you. Occasionally, like me, I have been fortunate to obtain three brands relatively quickly that ticks all the right boxes for me and them.
One in particular that I am going to mention is Art of the Loom. Andrew Thornber, the MD, contacted me after finding my details through Social Media. We had a lengthy chat on the phone, and something I rarely do, and would not normally recommend to those just starting out to do, I agreed on that one phone call to represent them.
For me, they had everything that I as an agent required in a brand. A family run business, natural fibre fabrics, product held in stock and very competitively priced. In addition, they came with a bonus brand, Harris Tweed!
Harris Tweed is one of the most desirable wool textiles in the world. It is produced in the Outer Hebrides, on the one Island with two names, separated only by a mountain range, the islands of Lewis and Harris.
The wool used to make Harris tweed is principally taken from flocks reared on the mainland Scotland. Early summer sees the island communities shearing the local sheep to add to the mainland clip. The process then starts with pure virgin wools being blended together to gain the advantages of their unique qualities and characteristics.
The raw undyed wool is then taken to the island mills where it is washed and dyed into an endless palette of colours.
The finished spun yarn is then warped, where the final pattern of the colours is prepared by winding the threads onto large beams to create the warp.
The Warp is then delivered, together with the bobbins of yarn for the weft and the patterns to the homes of the weavers, where by law, all Harris Tweed has to be hand woven on a treadle mill by the weaver in his own home.
Harris Tweed weavers throughout Lewis and Harris are self employed Craftsmen and Women, often having learnt the Craft from their forefathers over many years.
There is much more to this process, but, when finished, the Tweed is then presented to the Harris Tweed Authority's inspectors, and only if all the necessary regulations have been complied with, it is stamped with the Certification mark, or ORB MARK as it is known throughout the world.
The orb stamp is the mark of authenticity and the label issued with the cloth to the customer confirms it.
The Harris Tweed Authority is a statutory Public authority created by the passing of the 1993 Harris Tweed Act of Parliament. Prior to this, the Harris Tweed Association had been in existence since 1909.
For further information visit Harris Tweed Authority
Art of the Loom have three Harris Tweed collections in their portfolio, and for details go to Art of the Loom
John Northwood
