FibreTrace® launches authenticated, verified and traceable wool with Harris Tweeds Hebrides and British Wool

Harris Tweeds Hebrides introduces FibreTrace® technology to connect British wool growers to the end consumer.

September 17th, 2021

Written by FibreTrace®

Harris Tweed Hebrides is the first woollen textile producer to introduce a traceability technology that connects the digital to the physical - authenticating fibre origin, fibre quantification and full supply chain custody with real-time verification.

In collaboration with British Wool and FibreTrace®, Harris Tweed Hebrides has processed wool from wool growers across Scotland into a specially designed handwoven Harris Tweed® supplied directly to the Scottish based retailer the House of Bruar.

The initiative demonstrates the true proactivity and passion of the UK luxury community to put local wool suppliers at the forefront of sustainability and have their efforts at farm be globally recognised by brands and consumers alike.

“Our partnership with FibreTrace® is an opportunity for Harris Tweed Hebrides to truly champion British wool and support local suppliers who are committed to best practice and reducing wool’s local environmental footprint,” said Margaret Ann Macleod, Sales Director at Harris Tweed Hebrides.

“Despite the importance of the sheep farming sector to many of our most rural and remote communities across the UK, the relative scale of the wool industry has made it more challenging for British sourced wool to participate with established globally recognised sustainable certifications to trace wool back to its origin.  This project is a fantastic step forward to help us all support the many UK farmers and Scottish crofters who supply the wool fibre to produce Harris Tweed® which is always handwoven using 100% pure new British wool.” said Macleod.

FibreTrace®’s technology begins at the raw materials stage when the luminescent pigment is embedded into the fibre at the scouring. The product is scanned at each step of the supply chain - from spinning, to weaving, to garment construction and beyond, with every audit recorded on the blockchain to provide access to secure and irrefutable data. This data builds a unique passport telling the story of the item from farm to shelf and sharing this irrefutable storytelling with the end-consumer via a QR code.

FibreTrace® provides brands and retailers with true custody of supply, the ability to quantify and audit fibre content and access primary impact data for all natural and man-made solutions. The partnership marks a global first for FibreTrace® to launch fully traceable wool into the global market, sharing the entire lifecycle of sustainable UK wool products with consumers for the very first time.

ABOUT HARRIS TWEED HEBRIDES

Harris Tweed Hebrides, based in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, manufacture each metre of handwoven fabric in accordance with The Harris Tweed Act 1993, maintaining the integrity and distinctive character of the fabric which is recognised globally as Harris Tweed®.

Established in 2007, Harris Tweed Hebrides have become a success story of UK textile manufacturing. Credited with the revitalisation of the traditional industry following a period of decline in the early part of the 21st century, Harris Tweed Hebrides have focused on re-introducing vibrant yarn colour and fabric patterns synonymous with Harris Tweed® to the wholesale market, while focusing on sustainability, including fibre sourcing, and maintaining traditional textile manufacturing skills. Their fabric is now exported to over 60 countries and they supply many of the world’s most recognised fashion brands.

ABOUT BRITISH WOOL

British Wool is based in Bradford and is owned by approximately 35,000 sheep farmers in the UK.  It collects, grades, sells and promotes British wool to the international wool textile industry for use in flooring, furnishings and apparel. 

British Wool’s head office is in Bradford, with regional offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and country offices in Japan and China.