Harrisons of Edinburgh

The firm was founded in 1863 by the noted philanthropist Sir George Harrison, who later became Lord Provost of Edinburgh, when he bought out an existing firm of Edinburgh woollen merchants called J & A Ogilvie. The firm were situated in the North Bridge where the firm remained until 1957 when they moved to Chambers Street. Harrison had originally begun his career as a tailor and had started his first business venture with a firm of wool drapers, hatters and hosiers in 1838. At this point until the 1970s the firm was known as George Harrison and Co.

The firm created all their own designs and in particular were the first to apply the name District Checks to checked tweed designs. The fabric was woven in the Scottish Borders, in Hawick and then Galashiels (by Ettrick and Yarrow Weavers), and finished in Edinburgh because of the close proximity to the port of Leith. The firm also designed exclusive patterns for Estates and clients throughout the world. Most recently the firm also created the Burns Check for the Burns Association to celebrate the bi-centenary of his birth.

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