Discovering Harris Tweed. Part 1

A while ago, I made myself this "Oversized fashionista Bag", following a pattern of Lisa Lam's "Bag Making Bible".

 

I guided you through the making of it here, here and here.

 

The outer fabric is Harris Tweed.
This was my first encounter with this gorgeous fabric.

Since then, I ordered some more Harris Tweed and started making small accessories for my shop.

 

 

 

These are my new , luxury , coin purses: with Harris Tweed as outer fabric and Liberty Tana Lawn for the lining.

Some of them have already been sold , but I will soon offer them in my shop.

Reading through some background information, I became fascinated by the history and process of Harris Tweed production.
So, I thought of sharing this with you.

 

Harris Tweed is a fabric hand-woven by the islanders in the Outer Hebrides on the Scottish Isles of Harris, Lewis, Uist, and Barra,

using local wool and vegetable dyes.

In the early 1900's, groups of Merchants on these Isles applied for a registered trademark to protect the name of Harris Tweed legally.

This trademark was called : "The Orb"

 

 

 

 

The original definition attached to the Orb Trade Mark stated that:

‘Harris Tweed meant a tweed, hand-spun, hand-woven and dyed by the crofters and cottars in the Outer Hebrides.’

The Harris Tweed Association was formed to protect both the use of the Orb Trade Mark and to protect the use of the name ‘Harris Tweed’ from imitations .
 In 1934 a revised legal definition of Harris Tweed trademark was achieved. It allowed the use of local mill-spun yarn and confined all processes of production to the islands.



Here is an interesting link if you want to know more about the turbulent history of the Harris Tweed production. 

In my next post I will guide you through the actual process of Harris Tweed production starting with 100% new wool.

 

Warm regards

Kristien



 

The 2014 Trend Color of the year.

"Pantone is the global color authority and provider of professional color standards for the design industries.

Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute™ has been designating a Color of the Year to express in color what is taking place in the global zeitgeist. A color that will resonate around the world, the PANTONE Color of the Year is a reflection of what people are looking for, what they feel they need that color can help to answer. Not necessarily the hot fashion color of the moment, but a color crossing all areas of design which is an expression of a mood, an attitude, on the part of the consumers.

To distill the prevailing mood into a single hue, the PCI team, combs the world looking for future design and color influences, watching out for that one color seen as ascending and building in importance through all creative sectors. Influences can include the entertainment industry, upcoming films, art, emerging artists, travel destinations and socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, lifestyles + playstyles, new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention. 

 

The color for 2014?  The captivating, magical and enchanting Radiant Orchid. An invitation to innovation, modern and versatile Radiant Orchid encourages creativity and originality. Imbued with a harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and its rosy undertones emanate great joy, love and health. "

Source: http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=21128&ca=10

 

 

 

 

 

 



1. At Hawthorne Threads, one of my fabric suppliers, they put together a lovely collection of fabrics in radiant Orchid hues.

Have a look:

 

 

Here you can see the fabrics separately.

 

2. Another interesting link gives an overview of how this color will dominate fashion and beauty.

Some pictures:

 

 

 

 

3. Some treasuries on Etsy

 

 

 

 

4. A small item from my shop:

 





I could go on...
Enjoy.
Have a lovely weekend
Kristien

 

 



 

 

Sweet Christmas wishes.

May I wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2014!...

 

 

....with this sweet John Lewis 2013 Christmas Advert

 

 

 

 

Enjoy...

Warm regards

Kristien

Autumn - Winter 2013 Liberty Tana Lawn fabrics.

In my previous post I mentioned that each spring and autumn , Liberty launches a new seasonal fabric collection , apart from the classic designs which stay.
I wanted to give you an overview of this years autumn/winter collection: "Earthly Paradise".

 

On the Liberty Craft Blog there is a lovely post with an overview of all this seasons Tana Lawn fabrics.

Some examples:

 

 

Iceland first seen.

 

Fragrance

 

 

A sense of Liberty

 

Some of the designs are commissioned from artists and designers outside the Liberty fabric business.

- This season Tamsin Greig was asked to help with the creation of the "Audio" collection.

 

 

 

 

Here you can find an interview with her about her collaboration with the Liberty design team.

 

- For the "Tattoo " collection, Mo Coppoletta - a tattoo artist - joined the Liberty design team.

 

 

 

 

 

Here you can find an interview with him.

 

- For the "Taste" collection , the Liberty Design studio asked Jamie Oliver to join them.

 

 

 

 

Here is an interview with him.

Gorgeous fabrics , isn't it?

Warm regards.

Kristien

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Liberty fabric archive.

In the 1920s, Liberty , - the London based store- , funded by Arthur Lasenby Liberty, began to produce small floral prints that became known as Liberty Prints. They were printed on silk, cotton and wool.
The most famous is the cotton Tana Lawn , named after Lake Tana in Sudan, where the special cotton plant used for these fine cottons came from.
Each spring and autumn a new fabric collection is launched, apart from the classic designs which stay.
Some of the classic designs date back to the late 19th or early 20th century.
Some examples:

 

Lodden

It was originally designed by William Morris in 1884, but was made into Liberty's own design by rescaling and re-colouring.

 

 

Wiltshire

This leaf and berry pattern was designed for Liberty in 1933.

 

 

Elysian

was originally designed in the 1920s.

 

During all the years a textile archive has been build up.

It is used as a design resource for new collections.

 

Here is an interesting link to the Liberty Craft Blog with a post about the Archive

and a video showing how the Tana Lawns are printed:

 

 

Interesting isn't it?
Warm regards.
Kristien