Harris Tweed

[JerseyLawyer]

Speaking of tweed... This is slightly off topic, but hopefully not too much. If I were interested in buying a three-piece tweed suit, any suggestions? Bookster?

Of course, I could buy the suit with a pair of breeks, too, and then be ready for that invitation to shoot at some estate that I just KNOW will eventually come. ;)

[Jock Scot]

Speaking of tweed... This is slightly off topic, but hopefully not too much. If I were interested in buying a three-piece tweed suit, any suggestions? Bookster?

Of course, I could buy the suit with a pair of breeks, too, and then be ready for that invitation to shoot at some estate that I just KNOW will eventually come. ;)

There is Tweed and then there is Harris Tweed,they are not quite the same thing.I have never heard of Bookster,but they have some interesting stuff by the looks of it.If you were going to buy a shooting suit make sure that you don't buy that awful thin,soft fashion type tweed, it won't last for 5 minutes!Nothing less than 16oz, 24oz is the best for that job.

When this invitation to shoot arrives out of the blue,so to speak, do you think you might require a loader?

[JerseyLawyer]

There is Tweed and then there is Harris Tweed,they are not quite the same thing.I have never heard of Bookster,but they have some interesting stuff by the looks of it.If you were going to buy a shooting suit make sure that you don't buy that awful thin,soft fashion type tweed, it won't last for 5 minutes!Nothing less than 16oz, 24oz is the best for that job.

When this invitation to shoot arrives out of the blue,so to speak, do you think you might require a loader?

If I buy a shooting suit, I want the kind made out of tweed so thick it feels like carpet.

The Bookster site looked interesting, and they will ease out the waist of the jacket for those of us that might have need of more room around the waistline, so I liked seeing that.

If I get the suit, I'll wait for the phone to ring and then let you know. Of course, I could wear it to shoot skeet at my own club, but I might get a few odd looks.

[calanacrafts]

As I am a true Hearach (someone who was born and brought up in Harris) I feel I need to reply to this post, Especially as I work with Harris tweed fabric and wool. "The new owner of the largest mill Mr Haggas has decided as far as he can be established that he does not wish to sell tweed to clothes manufacturers around the world, but instead want to drastically reduce the number of patterns and make cloth only for his own range of five or so patterns". He has laid workers off in the last few weeks, but saying that, there are numerous Independant weavers like Donald John Mackay from Luskentyre Harris Tweed Co, who actually put Harris Tweed back on the market when he secured an order from NIKE who now have to get their cloth washed and finished by Shawbost Mill, as Donald John weaves a single width cloth and Mr haggas did not want the single width going though his mill. But saying this there is a new company which has started up trading as Harris Tweed Hebrides, in the old Shawbost Harris Tweed Mill, they are employing 20 workers, , . So hopefully when the Shawbost Mill fulfills their orders we the local crafts folk will be able to buy from them. I am sure they will also have a website although I have not looked for it as I am in touch by phone and come August can go to the Shawbost mill to buy my Harris tweed and Harris Wool. Thanks for reading Joan, Calana Crafts

[castledangerous]

And I'm working to develop the line to include Harris tweed kilt-cut shooting jacket and Harris tweed Inverness capes, as well. More on that as I get the details worked out, but be alert!

Looking forward to the shooting jackets!

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

That's better news!

As I am a true Hearach (someone who was born and brought up in Harris) I feel I need to reply to this post, Especially as I work with Harris tweed fabric and wool. "The new owner of the largest mill Mr Haggas has decided as far as he can be established that he does not wish to sell tweed to clothes manufacturers around the world, but instead want to drastically reduce the number of patterns and make cloth only for his
own range of five or so patterns". He has laid workers off in the last few weeks, but saying that, there are numerous Independant weavers like Donald John Mackay from Luskentyre Harris Tweed Co, who actually put Harris Tweed back on the market when he secured an order from NIKE who now have to get their cloth washed and finished by Shawbost Mill, as Donald John weaves a single width cloth and Mr haggas did not want the single width going though his mill. But saying this there is a new company which has started up trading as Harris Tweed Hebrides, in the old Shawbost Harris Tweed Mill, they are employing 20 workers, , . So hopefully when the Shawbost Mill fulfills their orders we the local crafts folk will be able to buy from them. I am sure they will also have a website although I have not looked for it as I am in touch by phone and come August can go to the Shawbost mill to buy my Harris tweed and Harris Wool. Thanks for reading Joan, Calana Crafts

[calanacrafts]

The Shawbost Mill are not making anyone redundant, It is the Mackenzie mill in Stornoway bought by Mr Haggas who have made folk redundant, Harris Tweed Hebrides got the Russian order, They are based in the old mill in Shawbost, Isle of Lewis.

[calanacrafts]

According to the "Oban Times"01/05/08 the Harris Tweed mill at Shawbost are making 36 people redundant.It is still tough out there for the Harris Tweed trade.

NOT THE SHAWBOST MILL, DIFFERENT OWNERS, AS SOMEONE FROM HARRIS THIS MAKES ME QUITE SAD THAT FOLK ARE PICKING THINGS UP AND NOT HAVING THE TRUE STORY,
MR HAGGAS WHO BOUGHT THE MACKENZIE MILL IN STORNOWAY A FEW YEARS AGO SOLD OFF THE YARNS HE HAD IN STORE AND HE ALSO SOLD ALL THE HARRIS TWEED STOCK HE HAD TO CATHERINE CAMPBELL. AND WHAT A STOCK THERE WAS. IT IS MR HAGGAS WHO MADE 36 PEOPLE REDUNDANT. THE SHAWBOST MILL HAVE STARTED UP AT THE BEG OF THIS YEAR AND ARE FULFILLING THEIR ORDERS.

[Jock Scot]

Yes it is annoying when the press mis-inform the public and I am sorry that I have passed on that incorrect information.It is still not good news for the unfortunate 36 who now have no job,though.

[calanacrafts]

Yes it is annoying when the press mis-inform the public and I am sorry that I have passed on that incorrect information.It is still not good news for the unfortunate 36 who now have no job,though.

yes Harris Tweed Hebrides and Harris Tweed Textiles have been taking on people to work in the mills.
they both have websites that you can search for if you are interested.