Harris Tweed is the only fabric produced in commercial quantities that is hand woven anywhere in the world, and this alone makes it unique. Solely made in the Outer Hebrides, the wool used in Harris Tweed comes from Cheviot and Black Faced sheep, and has a distinct resilient handle. Unusually the wool is dyed before being spun, blending a multitude of colours into the yarn to get the correct hue. The resulting cloth has an immense depth and complexity totally unlike any other tweed.

The crofters who make the cloth generally weave on looms in their own homes, once made, the cloth is collected by the mills to be finished, and then either sent back to the weaver or sold as part of the mills range.

The Harris Tweed Authority was established in 1993 “to promote and maintain the authenticity, standard and reputation of Harris Tweed; for preventing the sale as Harris Tweed of material which does not fall within the definition…” It works tirelessly to protect the use of the name, and ensure that the weavers meet the high standards required. Each piece is individually inspected and stamped by hand with the distinctive orb trademark.

Every year Cordings selects two or three Harris cloths and with hundreds of distinctive patterns developed over the centuries, choosing just a few designs can be a slow process. Once the patterns have been selected, our buyer then carefully chooses a range of traditional trousers and lambswool knitwear to compliment the colours in the tweed. Harris Tweed embodies the heritage of British clothing, and is an essential part of every gentleman’s wardrobe; a unique fabric that is as important today as it was 100 years ago.