THE SCOTS AND HARRIS SEEM TO BE GETTING A LOT OF PLAY RIGHT NOW AND I HAVE TO ADMIT I CHERISH MY HARRIS TWEEDS. BUT I MUST CONFESS TO MY CURRENT INFIDELITY AND SLIGHT OBSESSION WITH VINTAGE DONEGAL FROM IRELAND.
DONEGAL FOR CENTURIES HAS BEEN PRODUCING TWEED FROM LOCAL MATERIALS. THE SHEEP THRIVE IN THIS AREA OF IRELAND AND THE INDIGENOUS PLANTS PROVIDE THE DYES FOR THE WOOL (NOTE THE FLECKS OF COLOR IN THE WEAVE). THE LOOMS AND WEAVERS HAD BEEN SPREAD AROUND HOMESTEADS IN COUNTY DONEGAL LONG AGO TO PRODUCE THE TWEEDS AND THEIR NAMES CAN ALWAYS BE FOUND IN THE LABEL WITH THE LINE "JOY AND HEALTH TO YOU TO WEAR IT". NICE TOUCH.
