On the heels of its collaboration with footwear manufacturer Oliver Sweeney, Scottish whisky brand Johnnie Walker has linked up with fellow Scot Harris Tweed Hebrides to create a range of tweed fabric imbued with the scent of whisky.
According to Johnnie Walker, the cloth smells of “rich malt, golden vanilla, red fruit and dark chocolate tones.” The material—which unlike scented materials in the past, can withstand multiple dry cleanings—also reflects the colors of the whisky ingredients with shades of warm gold and deep burgundy.
The tweed was developed by Heriot Watt University’s School of Textiles and Design in Edinburgh and Galashiels by using micro-encapsulation technology, a process that allows the scent to be permanently layered into the fabric throughout the finishing process.
Related Stories
Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design business development manager Jim McVee said, “Smart textiles are a fast-developing sector that offers enormous potential. Our yearlong collaboration with Harris Tweed Hebrides is a great example of the ways in which we can help Scottish textile companies to develop their business, add value to their textiles and bring exciting new products to market.”
Former UK Trade Minister Brian Wilson, and chairman of Harris Tweed Hebrides, agreed, adding the new material can be a great benefit to the Scottish economy.
He explained, “This is a very natural partnership of two great Scottish brands with input from one of our cutting-edge academic centers. The more of these partnerships we can promote, the better for the Scottish economy.”
Wilson said the early indications are that the finished Johnnie Walker Harris Tweed products are creating a high level of interest in the target markets. The range of tweed will be promoted around Europe starting with Germany, Greece and Belgium.
