Latest news with #HTA
The Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Tweed makes a stylish comeback: Classic fabric, but with modern fashion vibes
"When you see tweed on the runway, you don't expect it to come from here," joked 38-year-old former banker Alexander MacLeod as he set up his loom in a converted barn on the shores of a Scottish loch. MacLeod became a weaver two years ago, joining residents on the islands of Lewis and Harris, off Scotland's northwest coast, in helping to rejuvenate the tweed industry after a significant period of decline. "It's a good thing to keep the tradition going," he said. Tweed is a symbol of Scottish heritage and has "always been part of the culture" on the Outer Hebrides, added Macleod, who hails from the island of Scalpay, which is connected to Harris by a bridge. It's now "an attractive sector to be in", he explained. He left the Hebrides for seven years to work in banking but the pull of his roots proved too strong. During the day, McLeod now works for a small local cosmetics company. In the evenings, he puts on a podcast, usually about espionage, and patiently begins to weave. Only the steady hum of his machine disturbs the calm of the old stone barn. Harris tweed, traditionally made from 100 percent wool, is the only fabric protected by a 1993 Act of Parliament. It must be "handwoven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides". Read more: Malaysian fashion designers laud Unesco's official recognition of the kebaya 'Resurgence' The weaver spoke of his "satisfaction" once the tweed is finished. The fabric, once associated with the British aristocracy, then goes to the spinning mill for a quality control check, where the slightest flaw is flagged up. Finally, it receives the precious "Harris Tweed" stamp – a globe topped with a cross – certifying the fabric's provenance and authenticity, issued by the Harris Tweed Authority (HTA). The tweed then leaves the island to be purchased by discerning companies abroad, including luxury brands such as Christian Dior, Chanel, and Gucci. Several sneaker brands such as Nike, New Balance, and Converse have also used it for limited edition products. The traditional staples are jackets, caps, and bags, but the fabric can also used for furniture. There are 140 weavers, according to the HTA, which launched a recruitment campaign in 2023 and offered workshops to learn the trade following a wave of retirements. This know-how, often passed down from generation to generation, is now being nurtured by a different profile of weaver. "It's nice to see younger people coming in," said Kelly MacDonald, director of operations at the HTA. "When I joined the industry 22 years ago, there was a severe period of decline. I was wondering: 'Is there going to be an industry anymore?'" But the industry is now enjoying a "resurgence" and "significant growth", with more than 580,000 metres of tweed produced in 2024. "We are always looking at new markets," she explained, and tweed is now exported to Korea, Japan, Germany, France and other countries. It is no longer dependent on the US market, as it once was, and should be largely shielded from the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Read more: Malaysian fashion designer Fern Chua talks about her 10-year journey with batik Slow fashion Tweed has "modernised", said Cameron MacArthur, who works at Carloway Mill, one of the three spinning mills in the west of the Isle of Lewis. He is only 29, but has already worked there for 12 years. The mill, with its large machines, looks as if it hasn't changed for decades. But MacArthur has seen it evolve to embrace a younger workforce and newer fabrics, meaning it is no longer just the ultra-classic Prince of Wales check or dark colours that are on offer. "Nowadays, we're allowed to make up our own colours... and we're just doing different things with it, modernising it, making it brighter," he said, showing off rolls of turquoise blue and fuchsia pink. "We're so busy... it never used to be like that," he said, adding that he was "proud" to be working with the local product. MacDonald also noted that tweed was an antidote to environmentally unfriendly "fast fashion". "How nice to own a product where you can actually look on a map to a tiny island and say, that's where my jacket was made. That's so rare now, and I think people really engaged with that," he said. "Every stage of the production has to happen here, but from start to finish, it is a really long process. We are the epitome of slow fashion." – AFP
Fashion Network
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
Tweed's youthful makeover resurrects symbol of Scottish heritage
"When you see tweed on the runway, you don't expect it to come from here," joked 38-year-old former banker Alexander MacLeod as he set up his loom in a converted barn on the shores of a Scottish loch. See catwalk MacLeod became a weaver two years ago, joining residents on the islands of Lewis and Harris, off Scotland's northwest coast, in helping to rejuvenate the tweed industry after a significant period of decline. "It's a good thing to keep the tradition going," he told AFP. Tweed is a symbol of Scottish heritage and has "always been part of the culture" on the Outer Hebrides, added MacLeod, who hails from the island of Scalpay, which is connected to Harris by a bridge. It's now "an attractive sector to be in", he said. He left the Hebrides for seven years to work in banking but the pull of his roots proved too strong. During the day, McLeod now works for a small local cosmetics company. In the evenings, he puts on a podcast, usually about espionage, and patiently begins to weave. Only the steady hum of his machine disturbs the calm of the old stone barn. Harris tweed, traditionally made from 100 percent wool, is the only fabric protected by a 1993 Act of Parliament. It must be "handwoven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides". The weaver spoke of his "satisfaction" once the tweed is finished. The fabric, once associated with the British aristocracy, then goes to the spinning mill for a quality control check, where the slightest flaw is flagged up. Finally, it receives the precious "Harris Tweed" stamp -- a globe topped with a cross -- certifying the fabric's provenance and authenticity, issued by the Harris Tweed Authority (HTA). The tweed then leaves the island to be purchased by discerning companies abroad, including luxury brands such as Christian Dior, Chanel, and Gucci. Several sneaker brands such as Nike, New Balance, and Converse have also used it for limited edition products. The traditional staples are jackets, caps, and bags, but the fabric can also be used for furniture. There are 140 weavers, according to the HTA, which launched a recruitment campaign in 2023 and offered workshops to learn the trade following a wave of retirements. This know-how, often passed down from generation to generation, is now being nurtured by a different profile of weaver. "It's nice to see younger people coming in," said Kelly MacDonald, director of operations at the HTA. "When I joined the industry 22 years ago, there was a severe period of decline. I was wondering: 'Is there going to be an industry anymore?'" But the industry is now enjoying a "resurgence" and "significant growth", with more than 580,000 metres of tweed produced in 2024. "We are always looking at new markets," she said, and tweed is now exported to Korea, Japan, Germany, France and other countries. It is no longer dependent on the US market, as it once was, and should be largely shielded from the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Tweed has "modernised", said Cameron MacArthur, who works at Carloway Mill, one of the three spinning mills in the west of the Isle of Lewis. He is only 29, but has already worked there for 12 years. The mill, with its large machines, looks as if it hasn't changed for decades. But MacArthur has seen it evolve to embrace a younger workforce and newer fabrics, meaning it is no longer just the ultra-classic Prince of Wales check or dark colours that are on offer. "Nowadays, we're allowed to make up our own colours... and we're just doing different things with it, modernising it, making it brighter," he said, showing off rolls of turquoise blue and fuchsia pink. "We're so busy... it never used to be like that," he said, adding that he was "proud" to be working with the local product. MacDonald said tweed was an antidote to environmentally unfriendly "fast fashion". "How nice to own a product where you can actually look on a map to a tiny island and say, 'That's where my jacket was made.' That's so rare now, and I think people really engaged with that," he said. "Every stage of the production has to happen here, but from start to finish, it is a really long process. We are the epitome of slow fashion."
Fashion Network
3 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Tweed's youthful makeover resurrects symbol of Scottish heritage
Tweed is a symbol of Scottish heritage and has "always been part of the culture" on the Outer Hebrides, added MacLeod, who hails from the island of Scalpay, which is connected to Harris by a bridge. It's now "an attractive sector to be in", he said. He left the Hebrides for seven years to work in banking but the pull of his roots proved too strong. During the day, McLeod now works for a small local cosmetics company. In the evenings, he puts on a podcast, usually about espionage, and patiently begins to weave. Only the steady hum of his machine disturbs the calm of the old stone barn. Harris tweed, traditionally made from 100 percent wool, is the only fabric protected by a 1993 Act of Parliament. It must be "handwoven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides". The weaver spoke of his "satisfaction" once the tweed is finished. The fabric, once associated with the British aristocracy, then goes to the spinning mill for a quality control check, where the slightest flaw is flagged up. Finally, it receives the precious "Harris Tweed" stamp -- a globe topped with a cross -- certifying the fabric's provenance and authenticity, issued by the Harris Tweed Authority (HTA). The tweed then leaves the island to be purchased by discerning companies abroad, including luxury brands such as Christian Dior, Chanel, and Gucci. Several sneaker brands such as Nike, New Balance, and Converse have also used it for limited edition products. The traditional staples are jackets, caps, and bags, but the fabric can also be used for furniture. There are 140 weavers, according to the HTA, which launched a recruitment campaign in 2023 and offered workshops to learn the trade following a wave of retirements. This know-how, often passed down from generation to generation, is now being nurtured by a different profile of weaver. "It's nice to see younger people coming in," said Kelly MacDonald, director of operations at the HTA. "When I joined the industry 22 years ago, there was a severe period of decline. I was wondering: 'Is there going to be an industry anymore?'" But the industry is now enjoying a "resurgence" and "significant growth", with more than 580,000 metres of tweed produced in 2024. "We are always looking at new markets," she said, and tweed is now exported to Korea, Japan, Germany, France and other countries. It is no longer dependent on the US market, as it once was, and should be largely shielded from the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Tweed has "modernised", said Cameron MacArthur, who works at Carloway Mill, one of the three spinning mills in the west of the Isle of Lewis. He is only 29, but has already worked there for 12 years. The mill, with its large machines, looks as if it hasn't changed for decades. But MacArthur has seen it evolve to embrace a younger workforce and newer fabrics, meaning it is no longer just the ultra-classic Prince of Wales check or dark colours that are on offer. "Nowadays, we're allowed to make up our own colours... and we're just doing different things with it, modernising it, making it brighter," he said, showing off rolls of turquoise blue and fuchsia pink. "We're so busy... it never used to be like that," he said, adding that he was "proud" to be working with the local product. MacDonald said tweed was an antidote to environmentally unfriendly "fast fashion". "How nice to own a product where you can actually look on a map to a tiny island and say, 'That's where my jacket was made.' That's so rare now, and I think people really engaged with that," he said. "Every stage of the production has to happen here, but from start to finish, it is a really long process. We are the epitome of slow fashion."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority could be replaced with new governance
Rep. Adrian Tam (D, Waikiki ), chair of the House Committee on Tourism, warned the Hawai 'i Tourism Authority during a Wednesday board meeting that the coming passage of Senate Bill 1571—which upon Gov. Josh Green's signature will dramatically change HTA's governance model—reflects a loss of confidence so deep that he is already considering a bill to upend the agency next year. Tam told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that SB 1571 represents the biggest governance changes to HTA since it was created, but that it may not be enough to fix all of the agency's shortcomings. Tam said that he is exploring drafting a bill to implement all of the recommendations in a third-party governance study released last July by Better Destinations LLC, founded by Cathy Ritter. The study, which cost nearly $300, 000, recommended that a private, independent, nonprofit Destination Stewardship Organization (referred to as a DSO ) replace the HTA, which was created by the state Legislature more than a quarter of a century ago. The new model, dubbed is described by Better Destinations as a 'community-first regenerative mindset ' that delivers not only a healthy tourism economy but addresses local priorities and improves unique assets through ongoing collaboration.' Mahina Paishon, HTA vice chair and vice chair of HTA's Governance Study Permitted Interaction Group (PIG ), told the Star-Advertiser on Wednesday that PIG has not made its official recommendation on the governance study's findings to HTA 'primarily because we wanted the governance study to help inform and to coincide with the planning efforts this summer for the HTA Strategic Plan, the next round of Destination Management Action Plans, and the Tourism Functional Plan.' If Tam and other lawmakers push the Better Destinations recommendation forward, it likely would put HTA's long-standing and largest contractor, the Hawai 'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, back in the driver's seat—after all the private nonprofit membership organization was founded in 1945 making it many decades older than HTA. In the meantime, HTA is facing more immediate changes from SB 1571, which will take effect upon Gov. Josh Green's signature. The bill :—Downgrades the HTA board to an advisory board.—Amends eligibility requirements to serve on the HTA advisory board.—Removes the director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism from the board.—Requires a member of the board to represent a tourism-impacted entity.—Allows the House speaker and the Senate president to each appoint an HTA advisory board member.—Exempts all positions filled by HTA within DBEDT from the state civil service law.—Allows the HTA advisory board to appoint the HTA president and CEO, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.—Requires the HTA president and CEO to report to the governor.—Allows the HTA advisory board to set the term of the HTA president and CEO in the hiring contract.—Clarifies that the Hawai 'i Convention Center must reflect a 'Hawaii ' sense of place instead of a 'Hawaiian ' sense of place. Tam clarified that the shift in the sense of place 'was meant to be inclusive.' But Paishon told the Star-Advertiser that she is concerned that the change from a 'Hawaiian ' sense of place to a 'Hawaii ' sense of place may leave too much open to interpretation. 'I don't want it to be interpreted as a policy change that means we are supposed to deemphasize Hawaiian culture, ' she said. Tam said lawmakers passed SB 1571 because 'we just wanted to have some oversight over the Hawai 'i Tourism Authority—what we have seen and it has been made clear to other members of the legislature as well as the public that the politics of the board has really seeped into the governance and to the policies of the authority and the authority (has been ) negatively impacted because of it ' Tam said lawmakers were trying to send HTA a strong message with the passage of SB 1571 and 'were hoping that things would start to get better and improve. However, unfortunately to myself and to others, it has progressively gotten worse so I am already trying to really tune into the governance study that was created and look at each recommendation and possibly start to craft a bill.' Tam said he was reluctant initially to use SB 1571 to downgrade HTA into an advisory board ; however, 'due to basically what was negatively put into the press to the audits to the unpaid invoices, interest, allegations of toxic work environment and the list just goes on, the Legislature and I myself felt like this would be a step in the right direction.' In the past several months, HTA has undergone dramatic leadership shake-ups as it has struggled to address allegations of inappropriate freebies at the Hawai 'i Convention Center and inconsistencies in its Hawaii Tourism Conference partnerships. There were also allegations about potential procurement violations and State Sen. Kurt Fevella (R, Ewa Beach ), HTA contractors, former HTA employees and some board members also alleged in a on May 4 that HTA and the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism failed to respond promptly to complaints about a hostile work environment—including alleged racist and sexist comments—that they claim contributed to the recent resignations of five Native Hawaiian members of HTA's leadership team. Isaac Choy, HTA vice president of finance and acting chief administrative officer, was put on unpaid leave May 9 at the direction of the state Department of the Attorney General and the Department of Human Resources amid allegations he made racist and sexist remarks on the job. Since Choy was the project manager for $100 million of repairs at the Hawai 'i Convention Center, his absence could extend the center's planned construction beyond two years, putting the state at in group tourism bookings. While the state Comptroller Keith Regan told the HTA board Wednesday that the Department of Accounting and General Services would take on the project, he advised that the timetable was 'aggressive. ' Tam said the public has started to take notice of HTA's challenges and that members of the Ala Moana Neighborhood Board on Tuesday night told him that 'they were genuinely concerned about the loss of (Hawai 'i Convention Center ) business, the reputation behind that and whether or not those clients would come back.'
Cision Canada
3 days ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
A joint study by Duchesnay and PeriPharm exposes critical gaps in access to innovative women's health products in Canada
The research reveals the challenges of introducing innovative medications in women's health in Canada BLAINVILLE, QC, May 29, 2025 /CNW/ - Duchesnay, member of Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG), winner of the 2024 Life Sciences Innovation Award by ADRIQ, in collaboration with PeriPharm, is proud to announce the results of a landmark study exploring the accessibility of innovative women's health products in Canada. The research exposes systemic gaps and significant barriers that prevent Canadian women from accessing the innovative therapies they need. The study found that of the 45 women's health products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2023, only 24 (53%) had received regulatory approval by Health Canada as of July 2024 and only 13 of these products are currently reimbursed publicly. 1 "These findings highlight a clear need to address inequities in how women's health is assessed, valued and prioritized," said Dany Hallé, Vice president, Commercial Affairs, DPG. "Striving to shape women's health ecosystem in Canada, we, at Duchesnay, believe that Canadian women deserve to have timely access to healthcare innovations." Another important issue highlighted by researchers is the delays Canadian women face when it comes to approval and reimbursement processes for women's health therapies. Compared to the general access timeline for medications in Canada, the process for obtaining public coverage listing for women's health medications takes one year longer and can even exceed three years. The study suggests that the current evidence-based Health Technology Assessment (HTA) framework may not fully capture the added value of innovative drugs in women's health, potentially contributing to delays or barriers in reimbursement and market access. "This is a call to action," said Catherine Beauchemin, Ph.D., partner at PeriPharm. "This initiative marks an important first step toward improving access to innovations in women's health. To advance women's health outcomes in Canada, we must start by understanding their needs and preferences." This study will serve as a benchmark and lay the groundwork for the development of a position paper co-written by leading experts in the domain addressing the challenges women ultimately face in the assessment of innovative medicines in Canada. This white paper would be hopefully available by year end. 1 In comparison, based on data between 2016 and 2020, 67% of all new active substance approval by FDA and/or EMA have been submitted to Health Canada. ABOUT PERIPHARM Founded in 2003, PeriPharm is a Canadian company specializing in pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research. The company's mission is to provide high-quality, diversified services to ensure optimal market access of health care innovations. PeriPharm's activity is built on the belief the best available therapies should be accessible to those who need it. As a leader in the field of health economics and data generation, PeriPharm has contributed to the success of several market access initiatives. For more information about PeriPharm, please visit Follow us on LinkedIn. ABOUT DUCHESNAY Duchesnay is a specialty pharmaceutical company with a long-standing commitment to women's health. Until recently, the company focused on filling the void in terms of scientific research and education and on developing pharmacological solutions that are safe and effective for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Today, Duchesnay has broadened its portfolio of products to offer safe and effective therapeutic options that meet the health and quality of life needs of women and their family members at different stages of their lives. Believing that women around the world deserve to have access to specialized treatments for their conditions, Duchesnay now distributes its products internationally. For more information about Duchesnay, please visit Follow us on LinkedIn. ABOUT DUCHESNAY PHARMACEUTICAL GROUP Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG), with its affiliated companies, is headquartered in Blainville, Quebec. The Group consists of six pharmaceutical companies to meet the needs of patients in Canada, the U.S. and abroad. The companies are Duchesnay (Canada) and Duchesnay USA, both dedicated to women's health; Medunik Canada and Medunik USA, which provide treatments for rare and debilitating diseases; and Analog Pharma Canada and Analog Pharma, specializing in orphan generic medications. From its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, DPG exports its innovative treatments to more than 50 countries. DPG is one of the eight companies across the country chosen to participate in the Government of Canada's Global Hypergrowth Project. This appointment offers exclusive and personalized support for at least two years, in order to accelerate its growth to become an anchor firm in the Canadian economy. DPG is the winner of the 2024 Life Sciences Innovation Award by ADRIQ, the Association for the Development of Research and Innovation of Quebec, which recognizes DPG's healthy workplace culture and commitment to pharmaceutical innovation, while DPG president Éric Gervais is the recipient of the 2024 Bernard-Landry Award by ADRIQ which acknowledges his impactful leadership on Quebec's research and innovation ecosystem. DPG, through its proprietary research and development, and through exclusive partnerships, offers innovative treatments for a variety of medical conditions in women's health, urology, oncology and for rare diseases, plus lower-cost generic medications. DPG recognizes the dedication and professionalism of its employees and promotes a positive culture and flexible work environment. It is deeply committed to environmental responsibility and to giving back to the community through the support of various charitable organizations.
