Hawick Tweed: The Fabric That Wove a Town Together

Discover the history of Hawick tweed, the mills, makers, and craftsmanship that made the Scottish Borders world-famous for textile production.

Written by: Olivia Pattison
Date Published:: 11 May 2026
Categorized as:: Uncategorized

Hawick’s rich manufacturing history

When people think of the Scottish Borders, whisky might now be part of the conversation, but long before spirit flowed through stills, another craft defined the region: tweed.

And nowhere tells that story better than our home town of Hawick.

For generations, Hawick’s mills thundered with the sound of weaving looms, turning wool from the surrounding hills into some of the world’s most respected textiles. Tweed became more than fabric here. It became identity. Community. Industry. Pride.

Even today, the legacy of Hawick tweed still shapes the town. Walk along Commercial Road and you’ll find old mill buildings alongside our distillery.

From luxury fashion houses to local family businesses, Hawick remains woven into the story of Scottish textile production, and the story of the Borders itself.

What is tweed?

Tweed is a hard-wearing woollen fabric traditionally woven in Scotland and Ireland, known for its durability, texture, and ability to withstand harsh weather.

Originally designed for outdoor wear, tweed became popular among farmers, landowners, gamekeepers, and sporting estates thanks to its warmth and practicality.

Over time, tweed evolved from rural necessity into a global fashion staple. Today, it appears everywhere from catwalk collections to tailored jackets, caps, bags, and interiors.

But while tweed is now internationally recognised, the Scottish Borders, specifically Hawick, is where tweed was invented, and remains one of its true homes.

Why hawick became a tweed town

Hawick’s rise as a textile powerhouse wasn’t accidental. The town had everything needed for wool production:

Soft water from the River Teviot
Access to sheep farming across the Borders
Skilled local labour
A strong manufacturing culture
Connections to trade routes across Scotland and beyond

By the 18th and 19th centuries, Hawick had become synonymous with knitwear, cashmere, tartan, and tweed production. Mills lined the rivers, employing generations of local families.

Textile manufacturing shaped the rhythm of daily life in the town. Entire communities were built around mill work, with skills and craftsmanship passed from one generation to the next.

Even now, most people in Hawick can trace family connections back to the mills.

The difference between tweed and tartan

People often confuse tweed and tartan, but they are very different fabrics.

Tartan is defined by its patterned criss-cross design linked to clans and heritage. Tweed, meanwhile, is typically woven using earthy colours and textured patterns inspired by the surrounding landscape.

Traditional tweed patterns include:

Herringbone
Donegal
Checked tweeds
Estate tweeds
Barleycorn
Houndstooth

Many Borders tweeds were designed specifically to blend into the countryside, making them ideal for sporting pursuits across Scotland’s hills and moorlands.

Tweed and our landscape

One of the reasons Borders tweed feels so distinctive is because it genuinely reflects the landscape around it.

The colours woven into traditional tweeds often mirror:

Heather-covered hills
Autumn bracken
River stone greys
Forest greens
Peaty browns
Misty skies

It’s fabric inspired by place.

That connection to landscape remains central to the identity of the Scottish Borders today. Whether it’s textiles, farming, or whisky production, local makers continue drawing inspiration from the land around them.

At The Borders Distillery, local identity remains central to everything we do, from sourcing Borders barley within 35 miles of the distillery to producing spirit that reflects the people and place around us.

the mills communities

Ask anyone from Hawick about the mills and you’ll quickly realise this story is deeply personal.

Entire families often worked within the textile trade.

Mill life has shaped friendships, routines, and the town itself.

That sense of community still runs deeply through Hawick today. It’s part of what makes the town unique within Scotland: a place built on hard work, skill, and looking after one another.

The Borders as a region has always quietly got on with making exceptional things. Whether fabric or whisky, quality matters here.

Lovat Mill and Hawick Tweed

One modern business continuing Hawick’s textile story is Lovat Mill.

Based on Commercial Road in Hawick, a stones throw away from our distillery, Lovat Mill creates premium tweeds inspired by the landscapes and traditions of the Scottish Borders.

Their fabrics are used globally across tailoring, fashion, and interiors while remaining proudly rooted in the town’s textile heritage.

Businesses like Lovat Mill help ensure Hawick’s weaving tradition continues for future generations – adapting to modern markets while preserving centuries of craftsmanship.

Hawick Today: Tradition Meets Modern Industry

Hawick may have changed over the decades, but manufacturing remains central to the town’s identity.

Today, traditional skills sit alongside modern innovation:

Textile production
Food and drink manufacturing
Independent makers
Tourism
Creative businesses

That balance between old and new feels very Borders.

At The Borders Distillery, our distillery itself reflects that philosophy. The Victorian building that once powered Hawick through electricity generation has been restored into a modern distillery while preserving original stonework, ironwork, and industrial character.

It’s another chapter in Hawick’s long history of making things properly.

Final thought

Hawick’s story is stitched into every thread of Borders tweed.

From the mills that powered the town to the makers still carrying the tradition forward today, tweed remains one of the clearest expressions of Borders identity: resilient, practical, creative, and proudly rooted in place.

And while the industries of Hawick continue to evolve, the spirit behind them remains much the same: local people making exceptional things with skill, passion, and purpose.

That’s the spirit of the Borders.

FAQs

WHy is hawick famous for tweed

Hawick became famous for tweed and textile manufacturing due to its skilled workforce, soft local water, wool supply, and strong industrial heritage.

How do you get to the scottish borders?

One of the best things about planning a weekend in the Scottish Borders is how easy the region is to reach. Despite feeling wonderfully rural and peaceful, the Borders sits within easy travelling distance of several major cities in Scotland and northern England.

By Car

Driving is the easiest way to explore the Scottish Borders, as many of the most scenic spots and small villages are spread across the countryside.

From Edinburgh, the journey to Melrose takes around 1 hour, while reaching Hawick takes roughly 1 hour 20 minutes.

If you’re travelling from Newcastle upon Tyne, the drive north into the Borders takes around 1.5 hours, depending on where you’re heading.

Several scenic routes cross the region, including the A68 and A7, both of which pass through rolling hills and quiet countryside.

By Train

While there isn’t a railway line running through the entire region, you can travel to the Borders by train and continue by bus or taxi.

The Borders Railway connects Edinburgh with Tweedbank, just outside Melrose. The journey takes about 55 minutesand offers beautiful views across the countryside.

From Tweedbank station, it’s a short taxi ride or bus journey to nearby towns like Melrose or Galashiels.

By Bus

Regular bus services also connect the Scottish Borders to nearby cities.

Companies such as Borders Buses operate routes linking towns including Kelso, Melrose, Galashiels and Hawick with both Edinburgh and Newcastle.

By Air

The closest airport is Edinburgh Airport, which is around 90 minutes from most Borders towns by car. From the airport, visitors can hire a car or travel into the city centre and connect via train or bus.

Is tweed still made in hawick?

Yes. Several textile businesses and mills in Hawick continue producing tweed, cashmere, and wool fabrics today.

What is the difference between tartan and tweed?

Tartan features criss-cross clan patterns, while tweed is a textured wool fabric usually inspired by natural landscapes and countryside colours.

Is there a whisky distillery in the scottish borders?

Yes. The Borders Distillery offers guided tours where visitors can learn about whisky production and taste spirits made on site.

Opened in 2018, the distillery reintroduced Scotch whisky production to the region after a gap of nearly two centuries.

When is the best time to visit the Scottish Borders?

The Scottish Borders can be visited year-round, but spring through early autumn is particularly popular thanks to longer days and mild weather.

Spring brings colourful countryside and quieter towns, while summer is ideal for walking routes and exploring historic sites. Autumn is also a beautiful time to visit, when the hills and forests surrounding towns like Melrose and Kelso turn rich shades of gold and red.

Is a weekend enough time to visit the Scottish Borders?

A weekend is enough time to experience the highlights of the region, including historic towns like Melrose, scenic viewpoints such as Scott’s View, and distillery visits in Hawick.

However, many visitors find themselves returning to explore more of the countryside, walking routes and historic sites across the region.

tour our Distillery

Winner of the Tripadvisor 2023 Travelers’ Choice Award

‘Beautiful distillery. Had an excellent tour with a very passionate and enthusiastic distiller who was our tour guide. Super impressed with the efficiency and mindfulness with which the Whisky, Vodka and Gin are prepared, taking care to not waste but recycle. Thank you Cerys for an informative tour.‘
Mallika, distillery visitor

Book A Tour