Dualchas
Dualchas
A gaelic term for ‘community and landscape working together’
A gaelic term for ‘community and landscape working together’
HARRIS TWEED & BLACKHOUSE
The brief
Design an authentic Harris Tweed interior weight fabric that embraces creativity, provenance, and innovation to enhance the established Harris Tweed Hebrides and Blackhouse furniture collaboration. Bring innovation to existing furniture collection shapes to attract new customers for both Blackhouse and Harris Tweed Hebrides.
The work
The fabric is an experimental take on a traditional herringbone. In the colour palette of the Scottish Hebridies; moss, grassland, heather, sand, sea, and sky. Informed by the jagged land formations and sweeping angles of the Hebridean coast line, the draft weaves asymmetrical, broken chevrons.
Colour sequencing in the warp further distorts the traditional herringbone design, breaking it into bands of colour. These stripes accentuate the contours of Blackhouse furniture design. The fabric is a haze of bold colours and a detailed exploration of the islands’ unique structures.
One of the images analysed to form the fabric colour palette.
Weave draft showing the warp and weft plans that create the fabric. Structure and colour originating from images of the varied Hebridian landscape.
The technical information handed over to the team at Harris Tweed Hebridies to produce the fabric in 100% wool.
“Ruby’s fresh colour palette and innovative approach to designing a new Harris Tweed pattern was noted by the judging panel, along with her clear vision for the structure of the fabric pattern used to create a unique and distinctive piece of furniture within the Blackhouse Harris Tweed range.”
— Margaret A Macleod, Sales Director Harris Tweed Hebrides
The final fabric design. Simulated here using Pointcarre to show the texture of weaving with 100% pure wool.
The four complimentary supporting fabrics for use with the main design.
The finished chair in it's first home.