It is already protected by an act of parliament, but from today Harris Tweed is to enjoy extra protection in the form of its own coat of arms.
Its famous Orb trademark has been officially recognised as its coat of arms, by the Lord Lyon, King of Arms, with confirmation at a ceremony in Edinburgh today. It gives the cloth the lawful right to bear a Coat of Arms under complete protection against any unauthorised use.
The definition of Harris Tweed contained in the Harris Tweed Act of 1993 is :
"Handwoven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides."
The Act ensured that all cloth certified with the Harris Tweed Orb symbol complies with this definition and is genuine Harris Tweed, the world’s only commercially produced handwoven tweed.
Norman Macdonald, chairman of the Harris Tweed Authority, said: “Being awarded a Grant of Arms is a historic milestone for Harris Tweed which has fought for decades to protect the sanctuary of the Harris Tweed cloth.
“It’s the ultimate protection for our products which are known for throughout the world for consistently high standards of quality and authenticity.
“It’s an honour to receive the Grant of Arms from Lord Lyon himself and we are grateful to be able to ensure the security of our cloth and its heritage for generations to come.”
The cloth’s Coat of Arms incorporates the Harris Tweed Authority’s logo and motto, Guardian of the Orbs, as well as the Gaelic phrase ‘Ughdarras a Chlo Hearaich’, which translates as ‘Trustee of Harris Tweed’.
The process of securing the Grant of Arms took just over 12 months to complete and was handled by Campbell Newell, a partner with intellectual property firm Marks & Clerk.
He said: “The Grant of Arms is a significant honour steeped in history and still to this day carries significant weight for Scottish brands, providing legal protection against unauthorised use of a Coat of Arms.
“As well as conferring prestige on the recipients, it gives holders the ability to take action against unauthorised use of a Coat of Arms. And with the Coat of Arms a significant part of the Harris Tweed Authority’s cloth, it is important for them to have avenues of defence available against copycats.”
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