The Moment I Fell in Love with Harris Tweed® Cloth

Earlier this year, a very dear friend asked me to make her some bespoke luggage using Harris Tweed® cloth and leather. She picked the most stunning colour, and from the second it arrived with me, I instantly fell in love with it. The colour, the texture, the history. Everything about it spoke to me.

That moment changed the direction of my business. I knew then that Harris Tweed® cloth was the material I wanted to build my Heritage Collection around.

But why Harris Tweed® cloth? What makes it so special that I've dedicated my craft to working with it?

Why Harris Tweed® Cloth Matters to Me

It's the Only Fabric Protected by an Act of Parliament

Close-up of Harris Tweed® cloth texture showing authentic Orb certification mark, handcrafted in South East Wales

Harris Tweed® isn't just a name. It's a legally protected trademark under the Harris Tweed Act 1993. This means only cloth handwoven in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, using 100% pure new wool, can be called Harris Tweed®.

I love that this protection exists. It guarantees authenticity, quality, and heritage in a way no other fabric in the world can claim. When you buy a bag made from Harris Tweed® cloth, you know exactly what you're getting. And that matters to me as a maker and to you as a customer.

Source: Harris Tweed Authority - The Harris Tweed Act

The Colours Are Inspired by the Outer Hebrides

Seilebost Beach in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, showing the natural landscape colours that inspire Harris Tweed® cloth patterns

Photo by Paolo Chiabrando on Unsplash

Every Harris Tweed® pattern and colour palette is inspired by the landscapes of the Outer Hebrides. The heather-covered hills, the rugged coastlines, the ever-changing skies. These aren't just colours chosen by a design team in a corporate office. They're colours that reflect a place, a culture, and a way of life.

When I work with Harris Tweed® cloth, I'm working with a piece of Scotland. And as a Welsh maker, that connection runs deep. Scotland and Wales share a Celtic heritage that stretches back centuries. The same values of craftsmanship, community, and respect for the land that shaped the weavers of the Outer Hebrides are woven into the fabric of Welsh culture too.

When you carry one of my bags, you're carrying that shared Celtic story. Scottish cloth, handcrafted in Wales, brought together by centuries of tradition.

It's Handwoven by Skilled Artisans Working from Home

Harris Tweed® cloth is woven on traditional looms by skilled weavers who work from their homes in the Outer Hebrides. Many of these weavers have learned their craft over decades, often passed down through generations.

This traditional way of working resonates deeply with me. I handcraft every bag in my small studio in South East Wales, so I understand the dedication, skill, and care that goes into making something by hand. Supporting Harris Tweed® cloth means supporting artisans who share those same values.

Source: Harris Tweed Authority - How It's Made

It's Sustainable and Supports the Entire Supply Chain

Scottish sheep providing pure new wool for Harris Tweed® cloth, supporting sustainable farming in Scotland

Photo by Sam Carter on Unsplash

Harris Tweed® cloth is made from 100% pure new wool, sourced from sheep raised by farmers in Scotland. When I buy Harris Tweed® cloth, I'm not only supporting the weavers and skilled workers at the mills. I'm also supporting the farmers who raise the sheep that provide the wool.

This full-circle sustainability matters to me. I want to know where my materials come from, who made them, and that everyone involved is treated fairly. Harris Tweed® cloth gives me that transparency and peace of mind.

The Quality and Durability Are Unmatched

Harris Tweed® cloth is renowned for its durability. The dense weave and quality wool fibres mean it's built to last for decades, not just seasons. As someone who makes bags designed to be investment pieces, I need materials that match that commitment to longevity.

Harris Tweed® cloth has a proven track record of lasting generations. That's the kind of quality I want to offer my customers.

How I Source My Harris Tweed® Cloth

I source all my Harris Tweed® cloth directly from Harris Tweed Authority approved sellers. This ensures every piece I use is authentic, certified, and meets the strict standards set by the Harris Tweed Authority.

I also have my own maker's mark registered with the Harris Tweed Authority, which means I'm officially recognised as a maker working with genuine Harris Tweed® cloth. This registration is important to me. It's a mark of respect for the craft and a commitment to authenticity.

When I order Harris Tweed® cloth, I typically order one metre at a time (the minimum order is 0.5m). Lead time is usually 5 to 7 working days, which means I'm working with fresh, current stock, not old inventory sitting in a warehouse.

What This Means for You

When you buy a bag from Emma Easter Handcrafted, you're getting:

Authentic Harris Tweed® cloth, certified by the Harris Tweed Authority and bearing the Orb mark
Handcrafted quality, made by me in my studio in South East Wales
A piece of shared Celtic heritage, connecting Scotland and Wales
Transparency and traceability, from the sheep farmers in Scotland to the weavers in the Outer Hebrides to my hands
Durability and longevity, designed to last decades, not seasons
A piece of Scottish heritage, handcrafted with Welsh pride

The Harris Tweed® Orb Mark: Your Guarantee of Authenticity

Harris Tweed® Orb certification mark on handcrafted bag, guaranteeing authentic cloth handwoven in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland

Every genuine Harris Tweed® product carries the Orb mark, a certification symbol that guarantees the cloth was handwoven in the Outer Hebrides using 100% pure new wool. This mark is your assurance that what you're buying is the real thing.

All my Harris Tweed® bags carry this Orb mark, and I'm proud to display it. It's not just a label. It's a promise of authenticity, quality, and heritage.

Source: Harris Tweed Authority - Labels and Certification

Why I'll Never Stop Working with Harris Tweed® Cloth

From that first moment when my friend's Harris Tweed® cloth arrived, I knew this was the material I wanted to build my business around. It embodies everything I value: heritage, craftsmanship, sustainability, quality, and authenticity.

Every time I cut into a piece of Harris Tweed® cloth, I'm reminded of the weavers in the Outer Hebrides working at their looms, the farmers raising their sheep, the skilled workers at the mills, and the centuries of tradition that make this fabric possible.

And I'm reminded that I'm part of that story too. A Welsh maker, working with Scottish cloth, connected by our shared Celtic roots.

That's why I choose Harris Tweed® cloth. And that's why I'll continue to choose it for every bag in my Heritage Collection.

Explore the Heritage Collection

Ready to experience Harris Tweed® cloth for yourself? Browse my collection of handcrafted bags made from authentic Harris Tweed® cloth, each one unique and made with care in Wales.

Shop the Heritage Collection →

References:

Harris Tweed Authority: www.harristweed.org
The Harris Tweed Act 1993
Harris Tweed Authority Labels Policy & Brand Use Guidelines

Why I Choose to Work with Harris Tweed® Cloth