Flagship Harris Tweed firm has global designs

Published on Saturday 26 December 2009 13:50

ONE of the Hebrides' leading Harris Tweed designers has been hired by the industry's flagship company to help it launch a full-scale assault on the fashion world.

Ann MacCallum, owner of fashion house Hebridean Dreams, will take up her post as commercial manager of Harris Tweed Textile Manufacturing in the new year, as the traditional cloth looks to reinvent its image and make an impact on the catwalks of Europe.

Next year looks set to be one of the busiest yet for the Lewis firm, with an order book of more than 200,000 that includes some of the biggest fashion houses in the United States, India, Japan and the UK.

Speaking from Lewis, MacCallum said her appointment broke new ground as she had a commercial and design background rather than a career steeped in tweed.

She said: "This is a really exciting opportunity. We cannot divulge too much, but we have some innovative plans that will take the fabric into a fashion realm.

"One of the key things we want to achieve is to keep our existing customer base as well as producing a Harris Tweed that is really visible."

Derek Reid, director of Harris Tweed Textile Manufacturing, said the company was well-placed following a 2 million investment in new machinery at its mill in Carloway.

He said: "Next year is going to be a very busy one, with the launch of hand-woven textile products, with previously unseen tweeds, in May and June. We are also introducing a lambswool ultra-light Harris Tweed that we hope to export worldwide. It seemed right to appoint a commercial manager to drive these changes forward, and we are pleased to have someone of Ann's skills and experience."

Reid bought Harris Tweed Textile Manufacturing in 2003 with American Alan Bain. Together, the two businessman have overhauled the vision for the fabric by bringing well-known designers on board.

To date, they have completed deals with Adidas and Fred Perry, while American label Calvin Klein featured a number of crisp Harris Tweed overcoats in its 2009 men's winter collection and Italian powerhouse Gucci has recently placed an order for the fabric.

Earlier this year, Bain brokered a deal with Alfa Romeo, which, on request, will upholster the interior of its MiTo model with Harris Tweed, while upmarket cloth merchants Holland and Sherry will be importing it into the States.

Harris Tweed is hand woven by islanders on Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra in their homes, using wool that has been dyed and spun on the islands. It is protected by a 1993 act of parliament.