£2.8m programme looks to halt decline as number of weavers falls below 30

Production of the world- renowned Harris Tweed is in danger of disappearing from the island which bears its name unless more people can be encouraged to take up weaving.

Despite continued demand for the unique fabric, handwoven to rigorous standards and protected by the Orb trademark and an Act of Parliament, the number of weavers based on Harris has dropped to less than 30, with most nearing retirement.

The fabric's future hangs in the balance and members of the local development trust on Harris have joined forces with a consultant from the Landscape Partnership Project to establish craft apprenticeships in a bid to arrest the decline.

Giving wannabe weavers the core skills by learning from the masters, it is hoped bursaries will help attract young people with an interest in textiles.

The trust is reliant on securing £1.7 million of heritage lottery funding this September which will go towards a £2.8m programme which will be invested in bursaries, a tweed tourist trail and improved marketing of the popular fabric.

Robert Hannah, who is a consultant on the project, said: "Harris Tweed is one of the biggest brands in Scotland, yet if you come to Harris you would find almost no tweed makers there. It is a dying industry and nobody has been paying any attention as to how to resolve it.

"Most people think Harris Tweed is made on Harris but this might soon cease to be true. The agencies who have a responsibility are not paying enough attention.

"The wider benefits, particularly from tourism are huge and the potential for tweed is enormous as it is a handmade product and represents everything that is good about Scotland."

Hannah believes in a decade's time, unless they take action to reverse the decline, the island will be full of retirees who will eventually take the textile tradition to the grave.

He added: "We have listened to our young people here and we know why they are going. They want to have many opportunities on the island and hopefully these apprenticeships would help resolve this."

The Landscape Partnership Project - which undertakes design and environmental projects across the UK - contacted Creative and Cultural Skills to help address the skills gap.

Its Scottish director Caroline Parkinson said she will do everything she can to ensure Harris Tweed doesn't disappear on her watch. "Harris needs to capitalise on its best-known brand and ensure what's created here, crafted here, also maximises its economic potential here," she said.

Harris's most famous living weaver, Donald John MacKay has agreed to help with training and even allow his house to be part of the tourist trail.

MacKay, one of a handful of independent weavers - meaning he is not employed by the Stornoway mill in Lewis - says ever since the 1960s when the mill closed on Harris, it has been up to the weavers to continue the tradition.

Still jet-lagged from his trip to promote Harris Tweed at Tartan Week in New York, MacKay said: "Locally there is a number of people showing interest and wanting to weave. Some are locals and others who have moved in - we don't care who they are, as long as they have a genuine interest.

"There are youngsters who have gone away then realised the grass isn't greener on the other side and come home.

"I am sure some would take up weaving. Whoever they are, they must like their own company as it can be a lonely job."

Hannah has been considering a number of ways to "sex up" Harris Tweed and hopes to adapt its use for iPod covers and mobile phone holders. He has also secured a contract with a company who make "healthy" one-strap bags designed to spread the weight like a rucksack.

Very Healthy Back Bag, the UK subsidiary company of Ameribag, plans to produce 500 Harris Tweed bags this September which will be priced £99 and be available in the UK, Europe, and across North America.

Priscilla Chase, managing director in the UK, said she considered Harris Tweed a "really funky material".