Ceistean a bhithear a’ Faighneachd Tric

The serial number on a Harris Tweed® jacket label was once used as an internal tracking device within the Harris Tweed® industry. The label was applied to a product or garment after it was made by its manufacturer, tailor or designer. The Harris Tweed Authority is not able to provide historic or provenance details on individual garments - to find out more about the age or provenance of your jacket, it may be worth contacting the manufacturer or tailor. You can always be assured, however, that the Harris Tweed® fabric itself was handwoven by a weaver in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

You can purchase Harris Tweed® cloth directly from the Mills and Independent Producers. Please visit our ‘Buy Harris Tweed®’ page for more information.

After purchasing Harris Tweed® cloth, you can apply for (to purchase) additional accessory or seam labels from the Harris Tweed Authority (HTA). Please note that the HTA must be satisfied that you will use the labels in accordance with the HTA Brand Use Rules before issuing (selling you) an allocation for additional smaller labels. Please see the HTA's Labels Policy and Brand Use Rules document for more information.

The HTA does not produce, sell or repair Harris Tweed® products and therefore cannot resolve any complaints or issues related to a product made with Harris Tweed® cloth. While we would be very disappointed to learn of a faulty product, it is often the case that the fault lies with a part of the product which is not Harris Tweed® cloth, I.e. the zip or the accompanying leather. You must take any faulty or damaged items to the maker of the product or to the place where it was purchased for the issue to be resolved.

The Harris Tweed® Orb symbol is a registered Certification Mark, not a logo. Certification Marks are similar to Trademarks in that the person or organisation that registered and was awarded the mark owns it and intends to protect their intellectual property. The Harris Tweed® Orb artwork may be obtained from the Harris Tweed Authority (HTA), but only when satisfied that it will be used in accordance with the HTA’s Brand Use Rules.

The Harris Tweed Authority is the legal body with powers under law to protect and defend the reputation and historic production methods of Harris Tweed cloth. Only tweed that bears the Orb certification mark can be deemed to be genuine Harris Tweed cloth.

Harris Tweed® is a tweed which must, by law, be produced from yarn which is made from 100% pure new wool which has been dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and woven by hand at homes of local islanders. It is the only fabric in the world to have its own Act of Parliament.

While originally established in Harris, the same skilled methods of weaving of tweed were also historically conducted throughout the neighbouring islands. As demand rose, weavers from these areas began to contribute to production with equally high standards and were recognised as makers of Harris Tweed® too.

Look for a maker’s mark on your product. This will often be in the form of a personalised label, embroidered mark, stamp, permanent (i.e. non-removable) tag or similar. This permanent mark will identify the maker, manufacturer or originators of the product. Alternatively, you may be able to source the maker via the retailer or shop from where you purchased the item.

No. The Harris Tweed Authority does not produce or sell any Harris Tweed® cloth or related products. You can read more about what we do and our statutory role in the industry on the ‘Our Role’ page.