Twill to Tweed – Lovat Mill: 200 Years of Tweed 1826-2026
Tweed is one of Scotland’s most enduring contributions to global fashion and craftsmanship, with its story beginning in the Scottish Borders and continuing to evolve nearly 200 years on. This exhibition traces its journey from a simple misreading in 1826 to an internationally recognised textile, deeply rooted in the landscapes that inspired it.
Tweed was born in 1826 when William Watson’s mill in Commercial Road, Hawick, sent six bales of tweel, the Scots word for twill cloth, to a merchant in London. A clerk there misread the word as “tweed”. Sensing a marketing opportunity, Watson embraced the name, drawing on its association with the nearby River Tweed. The term quickly gained traction, and today tweed is a globally recognised fabric while still closely tied to the land of its origin.
Lovat Mill, located near the site of Watson’s original factory, continues this legacy of craftsmanship. As part of the exhibition, the company has curated 17 cloths that chart the evolution of tweed over the past two centuries. Drawing on historic pattern books dating back more than 100 years, the display highlights how traditional designs continue to influence contemporary fabric production.
While rooted in heritage, Lovat Mill also looks firmly to the future. By experimenting with new fibres and weaving techniques, the company is developing tweeds suited to modern, high-performance demands while remaining Scotland’s leading weaver of estate and regimental tweeds. Its fabrics are worn by royalty and celebrities alike, from King Charles III to Taylor Swift, and are regularly featured by leading fashion houses. The exhibition brings this story to life through photographs, garments, film, and an anniversary publication.
Reflecting on this legacy, James Flemming, Managing Director of Lovat Mill, said:
“Lovat Mill is delighted to be showcasing the history and continued relevance of tweed in its birthplace of Hawick. Tweed’s appeal has proved as enduring as the land it seeks to reflect. Two hundred years on, Lovat Mill as the Home Of Tweed is the torch bearer of this legacy, recutting its cloth as it embarks on a third century of unsurpassed production.”
Tweed may be one of Scotland’s great gifts to the world, but it has never lost its connection to home. Today, Lovat Mill’s designers stand on the shoulders of the innovators who came before them, carrying forward a commitment to excellence in design, structure and colour as tweed enters its third century.
Exhibition Information
Borders Textile Towerhouse
1 Tower Knowe, Hawick, TD9 9EN
Tel: 01450 377615
Email: museums@liveborders1.org.uk
Dates
Saturday 11 April 2026 to Monday 11 January 2027
Opening Times
April to October: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 16:00 (closed Sunday)
November to January: Monday, Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 16:00 (closed Sunday and Tuesday)
