"Harris Tweed: From Land to Street"

[uppercase]

Anyone come across this book?


http://www.amazon.com/Harris-Tweed-Stre ... 726&sr=1-1

[davidhuh]

Dear Uppercase,

I have read it, and I like it a lot. Beautiful pictures (the author is a photographer). There are some portraits of independent weavers which could help guiding a visitor. The LL should work with one of them. Harris Tweed used to be more sturdy.

Cheers, David

[Gruto]

Great photos, and Patrick Grant's introduction about the weavers in opereation is fine. Apart from that I find the text side rather limited. It would have been interesting to learn more about the history of harris tweed and the cloth. What makes it different from others cloths? Is harris tweed only a good story, a brand, nowadays?

[Cufflink79]

It's a good book, with detailed photos.

But like Gruto has stated, it would have been nice to see more history behind the story.

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

[Berwick]

Dear Gruto,

What makes Harris tweed Harris tweed is that it is made on hand powered looms by individual weavers in their homes on Harris. You can in principle go and visit one and get him or her to make a cloth having the colours and pattern you desire. Most weavers take their inspiration from the surrounding landscape (sea, heather, peat , grass, etc). Some merchants contract weavers to make specific cloths. The Harris tweed trademark is a brand, but not in the negative sense I think you intended. Whether it is a good story depends upon the storyteller.