THE Harris Tweed trademark has been officially recognised as a coat of arms.
The Lord Lyon, King of Arms, has recognised the Harris Tweed orb with a Grant of Arms as the symbol of the industry’s coat of arms.
The Harris Tweed Authority said the recognition will provide further protection against counterfeiting.
The Grant of Arms recognises that only cloth hand-woven from virgin wool on the islands of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra can be called Harris Tweed.
Harris Tweed Authority chairman Norman Macdonald, left, 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 orb will be incorporated into a shield to become the coat of arms.
It first appeared on clothing in 1911 and is the longest continuously-used certification trademark in the world.
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