In June 2014 the Authority,
based in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, identified that Crate and Barrel had
available for sale chairs which were described as a “Harris Tweed Collection”
labelled as “Harris Tweed Chair” and “Harris Herringbone Chair”.
Neither style of chair
contained any Harris Tweed.
Both products were available
for purchase for a number of weeks on Crate and Barrel’s website, its stores and
were advertised for sale in its catalogues.
The selling and promotion of
the chairs in the UK breaches the Harris Tweed Act 1993 and other rights held by
the Authority on behalf of the Harris Tweed industry.
The Authority considers such
conduct with the utmost seriousness. Misuse of the Harris Tweed name risks
dilution of it, and undermines the integrity of an iconic Scottish brand steeped
in heritage.
Court proceedings were raised
to protect the Harris Tweed brand. Following negotiations, Crate and Barrel
explained that its improper use of the name ‘Harris Tweed’ was not deliberate
and no chairs from the “Harris Tweed Collection” had been sold in the UK.
The Authority has secured both
an appropriate monetary settlement and assurances from Crate and Barrel that
there will be no repetition.
Harris Tweed is cloth, hand
woven only by the islanders of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra in their own homes,
using pure virgin wool that has been dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides of
Scotland.
This is the definition of
Harris Tweed clearly stated in the Harris Tweed Act of 1993 and it ensures that
all cloth officially certified with the world-renowned Harris Tweed Orb symbol
complies with this definition, making it genuine Harris Tweed – the world’s only
commercially produced hand woven tweed.
Sales of Harris Tweed have
never been so buoyant, with the demand for the quality, genuine cloth
accelerating over recent years. It is an ancient industry which dates back
centuries and it is vital to the modern economic, cultural and social fabric of
the Outer Hebrides, creating employment for over 350 craftsmen and women.
The Harris Tweed Authority, on
behalf of the islanders protect the Harris Tweed brand for the good of
generations to follow.
Lorna Macaulay, chief executive
of the Harris Tweed Authority, said: “As we are based in the Outer Hebrides of
Scotland it can sometimes seem a long way away from the commercial markets in
which Harris Tweed is sold. But we never let this distance hinder our continued
efforts to protect our various registered marks throughout the
world.
“We use the best legal advisers
in the country, the intellectual property litigation specialists at Burness
Paull LLP, and we are committed to pursuing any individual or business who
attempt to undermine our historic fabric which is vital and valued not just by
the people of the Outer Hebrides or Scotland but also by our customers across
the globe.”
The Harris Tweed Authority was formed with the passing of the 1993 Act to
be custodians of the industry.
About Harris
Tweed
Woven on treadle powered looms, Harris
Tweed is crafted by hand without the aid of automation or electricity. Weaver’s
skills take months to learn and years to master and every step of the Harris
Tweed process is in the hands of skilled islanders, from dyeing to
delivery.
The fabric is literally dyed in the
wool, with separate pigments of wool carefully blended to special ‘recipes’
before being spun. Just one single yarn can contain several different colours in
order to obtain the perfect tone or hue, each reflecting some aspect of the
natural surroundings – heathers, mosses, lochs, mountains and
sky.
Leading designers, fashion houses and
artists have all embraced Harris Tweed over the years, season after season. Not
just restricted to catwalks and couture, the versatile fabric is also used in
bespoke interiors from household soft furnishings to five star hotels as well as
a growing range of accessories.
Harris Tweed
Authority
Originally conceived as The Harris
Tweed Association in 1909, the Harris Tweed Authority was formed with the
passing of the 1993 UK Act of Parliament.
Each length of Harris Tweed can be
traced right back to its individual weaver and mill. Made of 100% Pure New Wool,
Harris Tweed is dyed, blended, carded, spun, warped, woven, finished, examined
and stamped only in the Scottish Outer Hebrides by local crofters and
artisans.
The Authority marks as genuine with the
Orb every meter of cloth made to the exceptional standards and legal definition
befitting the protected textile. The ‘stamp’ is pressed onto all genuine Harris
Tweed, and is only issued by an official Harris Tweed Authority inspectors who
are fully trained guaranteeing it is a genuine article.
It also identifies and robustly
challenges any and all attempts to subvert the world renowned name and the
legendary Orb Mark.
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