Scotland’s iconic brands Johnnie Walker Black Label and Harris Tweed Hebrides have collaborated to create a “fabric of flavour” which smells of whisky.
Months of development work, also involving Heriot Watt University, have resulted in a Harris Tweed design which reflects the colours of the whisky ingredients while the fabric carries a unique scent – named Aqua Alba – based on the ‘key notes of the nose of the liquid.”
Donald Mackay, who heads the finishing department at the Shawbost mill said: “I have worked with aromas in the past but they were only meant to withstand one dry clean.
“The process we have devised for Johnnie Walker means that this scent is layered into the fabric throughout the finishing process and is permanently imbued in the tweed.”
Jim McVee, business development manager at Heriot Watt’s School of Textiles and Design,
said: “Smart textiles are a fast-
“Fabric technologists in Galashiels developed the prototypes which will enable Harris
Tweed Hebrides to offer products using this technology in future.”
Mark Hogarth, creative director for Harris Tweed Hebrides, said that the idea stemmed from a shared recognition that premium Scotch Whisky and Harris Tweed have much in common “in terms of heritage, complexity of the process and pioneering quality of finished blends”.
A range of products using the Johnnie Walker Harris Tweed will be marketed around
Europe with Germany, Greece and Belgium as the initial markets. They have been created
by the Milan-
The aroma is said to echoe the masterful whisky production process. The key notes of rich malt, golden vanilla, red fruit and the trademark dark chocolate tones have been layered onto the fabric.
Whisky galore for Harris Tweed
4 December 2014