Unique Harris Tweed for Bethesda

Harris Tweed Hebrides has teamed up with the Bethesda Care Home and Hospice to design a unique Harris Tweed which reflects the values and vibrancy of the organisation. It was given its first outing today at the Shawbost mill.

The design is a bright, vibrant sea blue window pane check. The Bethesda creative sewing team will transform the fabric into a range of ladies' and gents' accessories which will be sold to raise funds for the organisation, which provides vital care and palliative services on the island.

Brand development director, Margaret A MacLeod, said the mill recognise the importance of Bethesda and the “amazing commitment” of its staff.

"We provide on-going donations of fabric to help ensure the Bethesda shop is well stocked with locally made, high quality accessories. However, the fact that Bethesda now has its own dedicated design of Harris Tweed will add an extra dimension to that relationship and hopefully create a significant source of income to support the services they provide."

Bethesda's head of fundraising, D. R. Macdonald, said: "We have a number of extremely talented volunteers who have been making bags, purses, cushion covers and dog coats over the past few years with fabric kindly donated by Harris Tweed Hebrides and we felt it was time to have our own bespoke Tweed.

"We recognise the importance of Harris Tweed to our local economy and are proud to promote it while at the same time raising necessary funds for our local Hospice which will continue to benefit many in the local community."

The range of accessories made in the new Bethesda Harris Tweed will be available from its shop in Bayhead, Stornoway over the coming weeks.

Unique Harris Tweed unveiled for Bethesda

19 June 2017

Carol Somerville, D.R. MacDonald and Catherine Gomez from Bethesda with HTH chairman, Brian Wilson, displaying the new Bethesda Harris Tweed