Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Marketing Harris Tweed

"Harris Tweed" is a special designation to be shown only on products made from cloth handwoven by islanders of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra using pure virgin wool from the Outer Hebrides.

When the parent company of fast-fashion retailer Zara mistakenly suggested that a blazer was made from Harris Tweed, the Harris Tweed Authority pursued the matter until Zara apologised and corrected its error.

Demand for Harris Tweed has been rising, especially in brand-conscious Asian countries. Last year, Harris Tweed Hebrides was unable to meet the strong demand, and it anticipates another record year in 2012. By the way, the company has a Facebook presence and other social media accounts, adding a 21st century flavour to a young company marketing a product made from materials that are rooted in old traditions.