Description

Heritage and respect for the past  but introducing the future.

This episode is an immersion at Hawick, the birth place of tweed.

I’m in the Scottish countryside, in the land of the origin of tweed, visiting Lovat Mill, recognised as the premier tweed weaver combining latest technology with traditional skills and working with a wide range of customers worldwide. 

« We must look beyond the product, since the Tweed  in its essence is very ecological : how to reduce our carbon footprint, have a positive social impact…»

I’m in a conversation with Lovat Mill's Managing Director, James Fleming, along with Design Director, Alan Cuming who had the kindness to tell me their story, describe the secrets of their jobs, the creative and design process, the inspirations and even explain the wooden process to absolute beginners…. it is also a dialogue between the excellence of an authentic tweed and business.

Alan Cumming graduated from Scottish College of Textiles in 1985 and spend  a life of passion for this fabric of excellence, shares with us 20 years of Tweed life.

James Fleming,Directeur de Lovat Mill, In a former life he was a rugby player off 10 years, it looks different from textiles but you’ll discover the « similitude » in his relationship to transmission.

Discover the history of Tweed and its many legends, their contagious passion for their work, nature and people.

« There are tweed customers of all ages. The young customers who are following Gucci and Tom Brown in America, those typical customers who take tweed and make something very different out of it ».

« I think there is a wider market for tweed now (…) the face of tweed customer has become broader (…) it comes from a modern appreciation for what tweed is » 

« market like japan, where the customers appreciate the authenticity of traditional tweed, even if it’s itchy and scratchy they see that as a plus.» 

A massive thanks to James and Alan for enlightening us with their voice over,  and special thank you to Camille Herry for always sharing her love of Tweed with so much passion which led to this beautiful meeting, and journey 

I hope you'll enjoy !