Harris Tweed Can Be Sweet
My long-held association with Harris Tweed is a humourless, aging man, almost certainly based on the hopelessly uptight grandfather in one of the greatest 80s movies ever, Weird Science. Kelly Lebrock aka 'Lisa' chastises Wyatt's grandfather who has just entered his son's house where a high school house party sans parents is in full effect and begins to swat his way through the crowd, with the famous line, "You can't go around hitting people with your Harris Tweed hat." Or so I thought. As I was writing this a little voice said to me "Denise, it's not Harris Tweed, it's Rex Harrison." Dilemma: Do I scrap the post? No, because then I couldn't show this screencap of Wyatt's grandparents, catatonic in the closet in an induced 'happy' state thanks to Lisa's convenient "computer world" magical powers (back then we thought computers had the potential to do just about anything, but creating an omnipotent woman was pushing our imaginations just a little).
Correct or not, that was my association. Harris Tweed = serious, boring and joyless. Until now. The talented people at Glasgow shop breagha use Harris Tweed and Shetland wool, two of Scotland's finest resources to make accessories such as this adorable bag topped with a giant bow in grey herringbone HT and lined in pink dupion silk. I couldn't resist. One is on its way. With 15% off this weekend (quote 'Weekend Deal' in Message to Seller at checkout) and free worldwide shipping it's a real treat and a generous one as well considering the quality. When my package arrives surely I'll be looking like grandma in the photo (I'm referring to her expression only).
See the other great bags on offer at the breagha Etsy shop
P.S. Did you know that Harris Tweed means a tweed which has been hand woven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the islands of Harris, Lewis, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra and their several purtenances (The Outer Hebrides) and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides? Neither did I. Now we're both a wee bit wiser.
See the other great bags on offer at the breagha Etsy shop
P.S. Did you know that Harris Tweed means a tweed which has been hand woven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the islands of Harris, Lewis, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra and their several purtenances (The Outer Hebrides) and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides? Neither did I. Now we're both a wee bit wiser.
Lovely. Fun. I want one too.
Posted by: Kim | April 25, 2009 at 02:25 AM
I have an insanely bright (orange - yellow - green) Harris tweed coat by Ossie Clark. Definitely wasn't my image of Harris tweed before I found it!
Posted by: WendyB | April 25, 2009 at 03:36 AM
Wendy, I'd like to play in your closet one day!!
Posted by: Denise @ The Swelle Life | April 25, 2009 at 12:20 PM
These bags remind me of the material used by a company called Anta. They use Scottish Tartan to make rugs, shawls and bags. Lovely stuff if you get a chance to check it out.
Posted by: The Style PA | April 27, 2009 at 10:34 PM
These bags are absolutely adorable!
Posted by: Wicked Halo | May 03, 2009 at 04:30 PM
They are! I received mine a couple days ago and it's really gorgeous - very well constructed and the shape is just the cutest! Even at full price I think her bags are actually quite a steal, lined in silk, too!
Posted by: Denise @ The Swelle Life | May 03, 2009 at 04:58 PM