Doctor Who v. Harris Tweed….the horror of it all
Who would have ever bet money that, in the 21st century, there would be an uproar involving the classic 60’s Harris Tweed manufacturer and the longest running science fiction series either side of the pond. If you didn’t, you should have.
We all remember the recent resurgence of Harris Tweed when, back in 2009, the newest traveling Time Lord would make a 1960s-style twilled jacket his signature apparel, much like Tom Baker’s scarf, Sylvester McCoy’s bow tie, etc.
Unfortunately, word comes that a simple Harris Tweed jacket wasn’t much of a match for the weather during series filming in Wales. Not only is the Doctor not sporting a genuine Harris Tweed jacket, it’s now a warmer, similar styled jacket is being manufactured by a Canadian clothing company, AbbyShot Clothiers.
Adding gasoline to the fury of Harris Tweed purists, fans of the show looking to mimic Doctor Who’s 60’s professorial style “…are being offered the chance (for more than $500) to purchase an AbbyShot-supplied, Chinese-sourced replica made from a wool-acrylic blend based on the new Savile Row jacket design“. The key point of contention here being not authentic and not genuine.
Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil, who originally had nothing but praise for the series when it was announced back in 2009 about aligning with the classic Harris Tweed makers, is asking the BBC to reconsider it’s current merchandising deal with the Canadian outlet saying, “I’m appalled and outraged. What the BBC are doing is stealing Scotland’s heritage.” Harris Tweed Scotland has panned the proposed replica as “tacky”. This has all the makings of an event that only Michael Buffer could announce.
In: Odds & Sods
