Remnant House, Yorkshire’s leading independent seller of sewing and haberdashery products, have shared their thoughts on the launch of a tweed fabric that smells like whisky.

Two of Scotland’s most iconic brands, whisky creators Johnnie Walker Black Label and tweed sellers Harris Tweed Hebrides, have recently joined force to create the unusual and unbelievable textile.

The special tweed was launched on 2December in Berlin, Germany, and is said to have “rich malt, golden vanilla, red fruit and the trademark dark chocolate tones.”

The joint project took many months of secret development as well as some extra specialist assistance from Heriot Watt University. The result is a tweed design which not only features the trademark colours of the famous whisky ingredients but also holds its unique scent.

Named Aqua Alba, the product is sure to be a hit amongst whisky lovers and those who love something that little bit different and quirky.

Head of the finishing department at Harris Tweed Hebrides, Donald Mackay, explained what sets Aqua Alba apart from other scented fabrics: “I have worked with aromas in the past but they were only meant to withstand one dry clean. The process we have devised for Johnnie Walker means that this scent is layered into the fabric throughout the finishing process and is permanently imbued in the tweed.”

Business development manager at Heriot Watt’s School of Textiles and Design, Jim McVee, explained: “Smart textiles are a fast-developing sector that offers enormous potential. Our brief was to assist Harris Tweed Hebrides with the development of a tweed for Johnnie Walker that incorporates a micro-encapsulated fragrance.

“Fabric technologists in Galashiels developed the prototypes which will enable Harris Tweed Hebrides to offer products using this technology in future.”

Remnant House, a Harrogate-based seller of fabrics and sewing equipment, often share their thoughts on industry related news and believe that Aqua Alba could represent the next step into a new generation of textiles.

A spokeswoman for Remnant House said: “We’re not sure why exactly you’d want to smell of whisky, or how long you’d be able to keep your job if you did turn up to work every day smelling of Johnnie Walker, but what we do know is that Aqua Alba is a big step towards arguably the fastest developing sector in textiles – smart textiles.

“In the future, we can see smart textiles which feature aromas being every bit as popular as traditional options. At Remnant House we sell several traditional tweed options but we’d love to expand our range and feature exciting new scented products.”

Remnant House are based in Harrogate, Yorkshire and sell fabrics and haberdashery goods throughout the United Kingdom. They have over 50 years of experience and are known for their large yet affordable range of fabrics. Visit their site at www.remnanthousefabric.co.uk for more info.