I've bought more of Amy Britton's Harris Tweed purses over the years than I'd like to admit, and hardly any of them have stayed purses for long. In my family they get taken over as Lego bags, sewing pouches and homes for business cards, passed from one person to the next and filled with whatever matters that week. However hard they're used, they never seem to wear out.
Amy is the last person to go around talking about herself, so much so that I'm still waiting on a proper photo of her. In the meantime, here's one of the two of us, taken after we spoke together on a panel in Glasgow about what "Made in Scotland" actually means, and how much of it rings true.
Sustainability from the very first stitch
Lots of brands talk about sustainability. Amy lives by it. She doesn't design something just because she thinks it will sell and then look for a green story to attach to it. She starts with the materials, asking what can be reused, repurposed or given a second life, and builds from there.
She has gone to remarkable lengths to make sure every part of her accessories is made here in Scotland, right down to the recycled thread they're stitched with. Spend five minutes talking to her and you'll realise how much she knows about textiles: how cloth is made, how it can be recycled, and the long heritage behind it. Her pieces are responsibly sourced and responsibly made, and she would rather make fewer things well than chase trends.
Harris Tweed in colours you won't expect
Every piece is made from genuine Harris Tweed®, the cloth handwoven by islanders in their own homes in the Outer Hebrides. It's one of the most hardwearing fabrics there is, which is why Amy's bags last so well. Her shapes are classic and simple, and the colours are bright, fun and contemporary, drawn from the Scottish landscape and its seasons: heather purple, lichen and grass green, a sunrise orange.
At Made Scotland you'll find her Harris Tweed glasses cases and cosmetic bags. They make thoughtful gifts for anyone who appreciates things made properly, and they're built to be used every day for years, whatever new job someone in the family finds for them.
