Harris Tweed

Don't say I didn't see the end of the industry as we know it coming....

Investment: great
Permanent contracts: great
Redundancies: terrible
A reduction in patterns: disastrous

So why is it all happening? Simple, if you have been in business yourself. Streamline production, slash overheads with new technology, produce the product at a lower cost and sell shit loads of metres. I forecast increased orders and reduced income (for weavers) whilst cheap and nasty - "traditional" (sic, sic, sic) - Harris Tweed is sold by the mile to unsuspecting Japanese and Americans.

Stuff the heritage, weigh the pound notes.

Remember that the business is now based in Yorkshire, not locally, which is a hell of a hike for Council meetings.

Traditional Lewis dress