How the colours of nature inspire the cloth makers of Scotland and China

In the western isles of Scotland, it is the local plants and lichens that inspire the makers of Harris tweed. In south-western China, Bai people use woad root to tie-dye their clothes. On opposite sides of the planet, artisans combine nature and tradition to produce highly sought-after garments.

Scotland’s Outer Hebrides lie on the edge of north-western Europe. The incredible landscape is the inspiration for the colours that are woven into the famous fabric that is made here.

Harris Tweed Hebrides is one of three mills on the island. Production and Design Manager Calum Iain Macleod shows us around.

"It's 100% pure virgin wool," he says. "This is all we can use in Harris Tweed. We can't use any foreign fibres other than 100% wool."

The mill produces over 50 base colours. Once dyed, these are combined to make infinite blends. The wool is then carded and spun into yarn. Protected by parliament, the rules governing Harris Tweed are strict. The cloth must be woven by hand, by the people of the Outer Hebrides.

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Once woven, the fabric is brought back to the mill for cleaning and pressing, ready for certification.

"It's presented to the Harris Tweed Authority, who will authenticate it with the famous orb logo," explains Calum. "It must have that stamp to be recognized as Harris Tweed.”

Clothes made in Harris Tweed have worldwide appeal.

"We get visitors from all over the world and everybody knows Harris Tweed," says David Galloway, Store Manager at Walker Slater Menswear in Edinburgh. "Those guys are the heart of our business. They know they're going to get a lifetime's wear out of it. They know there’s the history and they want the fabric, they want the weight, they want the