Harris Tweed; fascinating (well, to me ) prog about manufacturing, lost skills etc.

fc123

lostinrates wrote: »

Butt of Lewis B110 is jolly! But I love b114

Harris would be 139 for me, I think.

http://www.webclassifieds.us/223125/Genuine-Handwoven-Harris-Tweed-From-Scotland.html


##I found him....I haven't looked as his youtube..this promo site, you have to scroll down to read what he says.....mentions the 4 jackets.
He must be the other independent weaver.

I think I may try some out for a small mid winter range...but will have to a sexyish look as my real life concession is only 6 small prong rails and things need to match in a bit........so would allocate 2 to see how it sells.

Looks like he's the man to get the cloth from.....wonder what the lead times are for cloth to order?

treliac

I wish I had just a fraction of your dressmaking skills fc. My limit's stitching a hem or a button on.

So glad your business plans are back on track. :T

lostinrates

treliac wrote: »

I wish I had just a fraction of your dressmaking skills fc. My limit's stitching a hem or a button on.

So glad your business plans are back on track. :T

In frustration with DH who would NOT stand still I told him he'd have to get his new trousers shortened in th City recently. He took thre pairs in, and biarrely, they've done the left leg shorter than the right. The best pair is about half an inch out, the worst, and inch and a half! As a result I feel less bad now.

treliac

lostinrates wrote: »

In frustration with DH who would NOT stand still I told him he'd have to get his new trousers shortened in th City recently. He took thre pairs in, and biarrely, they've done the left leg shorter than the right. The best pair is about half an inch out, the worst, and inch and a half! As a result I feel less bad now.

How inept. Hope they put them right!!

fc123

Still googling at the mo..

This was written last year and they still make a million metres pa....which sounds a lot to to me as a jacket is about a metre (depending on width) but ised to make 7 mill a decade ago.
Good old Primark got the blame in the headline as that was topical last year.

I have to say, our local Primark doesn't seem as manically busy this year as it was 2 years ago. Their prices are up 30% I noticed.

But Mr Maclean said the cottage industry, where weavers still produce the cloth in their own homes, was on the verge of extinction.

He said: "We all knew this year would be hard and traumatic. If we have another year like this, you'll not have a Harris Tweed industry. There will be no weavers.

"They are on the breadline. If the situation is not as serious as it is you would not have the minister coming here to solve the problem.

"I don't think it is unreasonable to expect a full-time weaver to earn £25,000-a-year. But the tweed is selling at Primark prices. It is being sold at £16-a-metre, while it needs to be more like £25 a metre."
Weavers are paid around £130 for each 50m beam, or barely £2.50 a metre, but many say they have little or no work.

I have to say, I thought it would be £25 pm which seems to be the 'proper' price if the weavers are to earn a living wage.

lostinrates

treliac wrote: »

How inept. Hope they put them right!!

No, when he went back they feigned a lack of ability to del with his complaint in English an he was in a rush so he gave up. they are too short on the short leg to really rectify in anyway so I plan to kick DH every time he wears them so the limp mkes such things less noticable.

lostinrates

fc123 wrote: »

I have to say, I thought it would be £25 pm which seems to be the 'proper' price if the weavers are to earn a living wage.

How is that worked out? Costs of materials/dies/ maitaining equipment plus time? How much do think that makes the time worth?

fc123

lostinrates wrote: »

How is that worked out? Costs of materials/dies/ maitaining equipment plus time? How much do think that makes the time worth?

Generally cost of yarn + time + fixed overheads I guess.

I don't know much about weaving but the skill lies in the setting up of the loom with all the colours etc. to make whichever pattern.
I figure that's time consuming.

Butts has a lush solid pink tweed online. If the cloth comes with labels, the label should be on the outside..back of waist I reckon...like a brand tab. Not very subtle but right for a certain type of customer....The Japanese would like that.
I did some severely tacky UJ flag deconstructed thingies for just one week (LFW ) and all sold to tourists....it's all about sales init?!:o

lostinrates

fc123 wrote: »

Butts...back of waist I reckon...like a brand tab.

sounds about right!

treliac

fc123 wrote: »

I have to say, our local Primark doesn't seem as manically busy this year as it was 2 years ago. Their prices are up 30% I noticed.

I've noticed this as well. It's good if it means they are cutting down on the use of child sweatshop labour (but they're probably not) and bad if, having gained their reputation on fashionable but cheap clothing, they are now going to push their prices up.

New Look did the same thing. I s'pose they all know their market though and what they can safely get away with.