Northumberland gets its Own Tweed

First Ever Northumbrian Tweed Launched

Northumberland has its own tartan and but is has never had its own Tweed.

With the help of The Duchess of Northumberland one young Northumbrian’s entrepreneurial dream has come true with the creation of the FIRST Northumbrian Tweed.

Officially registered and licenced by Susanne Hume t/a The Northumbrian Tweed Company, the tweed is available on-line and in various outlets across Northumberland in a range of products.

Working together with the Duchess of Northumberland, Susanne selected colours for the Tweed which symbolise the diverse landscapes of the county.  The Northumbrian Tweed has a traditional green background with a touch of heather and pebble running through it to symbolise the heath and hills of the county.  The checks of the fabric are made up of brown to symbolise the rich farm land, and yellow and red, the colours from the Northumbrian flag; the ‘Harry Hotspur’.

Woven by Marton Mills in Yorkshire; the closest English mill to Northumberland, the Northumbrian Tweed Range currently includes, cushions, draft excluders and home personal accessories.

“I am really impressed by the finished Northumbrian Tweed, and wish Susanne the very best for her business venture, it deserves to do well,” says the Duchess of Northumberland.

Susanne launched The Northumbrian Tweed Company  one year ago, making and selling items using ‘off the shelf’ tweeds from the Cairngorm and the Cheviot ranges. Whilst selling her items at The Alnwick Garden Christmas Market it became apparent that there was a demand for a dedicated Northumbrian Tweed.  After completing detailed market research Susanne ascertained 80% of those surveyed would welcome a tweed specific to Northumberland.

Commenting on her new venture Susanne said: “I was absolutely staggered when I found out that our beautiful county didn’t have its own tweed, I have really enjoyed the process of creating and designing it.  I am originally from the south of the county but when I moved to north Northumberland I fell in love with the rolling Cheviot Hills, and that is where my inspiration really came from.

“It has been a pleasure to create the fabric with the support of Her Grace, the Duchess of Northumberland, and to create something associated with the county, as well as putting the textiles industry on the map for Northumberland is wonderful.  I hope to work with the Duchess to extend the Northumbrian Tweed range, and it is with much excitement that I look forward to the future of my new company.”