Brooks Brothers Celebrates Scotland at their Flagship Store.

Claudio Del Vecchio (left) and Donald Martin (right) — Donald Martin, Chairman of the Harris Tweed Authority, presents a special Harris Tweed Centenary Year Heritage Award to Claudio Del Vecchio, Chairman & CEO of Brooks Brothers.

A night filled with tartan print kilts, perfectly crafted cocktails, great light fare and a picturesque scene that looks as if it could have been taken out of any prominent clubhouse photo album is what I experienced night before last. Brooks Brothers’ Chairman & CEO Claudio Del Vecchio hosted a celebration of Scottish textiles at its flagship store on Madison Avenue (New York City) on November 2. Donald Martin, Chairman of the Harris Tweed Authority flew 3,500 miles to thank Brooks Brothers for being a loyal customer as part of the Scottish fabric’s 100^th anniversary this year.

Upon entering the Brooks Brothers Flagship Store I was greeted by a gentleman dressed in Scottish garb playing the bagpipe. As I walked further into the store and up the escalators I landed on the the St. Andrews floor (That’s is what I like to call it). If you don’t know, St. Andrews in the oldest golf course in the world, which is located in Scotland. On this floor I was able to mingle with some of the guests as well as preview the Harris Tweed collection.

Hand-woven by weavers in their own homes in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Harris Tweed is a highly treasured fabric that is a part of Scottish textile heritage. A selection of Brooks Brothers fall collection featuring Harris Tweed was showcased at the event alongside other Scottish-made products.

“Brooks Brothers has a long standing tradition of offering our customers the finest Scottish textiles,” said Mr. Del Vecchio. “We proudly celebrate generations of collaboration, quality and value.”

Donald Martin, Chairman of the Harris Tweed Authority said: “Harris Tweed has had a fabulous year celebrating 100 years of the Orb trademark, that marks the authenticity of a cloth which is loved the world over. As our centenary draws to a close we are delighted to formally recognise Brooks Brothers, one of our key ambassadors, with a special Harris Tweed Centenary Year Heritage Award. Over the years Brooks Brothers has been a loyal customer of the ‘cloth from the land’, ensuring it is available to discerning customers season after season. This award is a small token of thanks from everyone in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland for this support, and we hope it will continue for hundreds of years to come.”

Established in 1818 and considered American’s oldest apparel retailer, Brooks Brothers has a long-standing history with Scottish knitwear and fabric mills including Robert Noble, Barrie, Hawick Knitwear, Reid & Taylor, Harris Tweed, Todd & Duncan, Johnstons of Elgin and Begg Scotland. The event celebrates Brooks Brothers as a leading customer of Scotland’s finest producers.

“Brooks Brother is one of more than 200 leading retailers and fashion labels that come to Scotland season after season to develop new textile products and work closely with Scottish mills to enhance their brands,” said Danny Cusick, President, Americas, of Scottish Development International, the national economic development agency that worked with Brooks Brothers on the promotion.

Steve North, Director of Instruction at St Andrews Links – the birthplace of golf – golfed around New York City yesterday dressed nattily in Harris Tweed and Scottish cashmere to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the iconic Scottish fabric and a Brooks Brothers promotion featuring tartans, tweeds, cashmere and other fine textiles from Scotland.

Steve North, Director of Instruction at St Andrews Links – the birthplace of golf – was also on hand at the Brooks Brothers “Highland Fling” to give guests tips on their swing in a state-of-the-art, full-scale indoor PGA Tour golf simulator, thought to be the first system of its kind in an apparel retailer environment. Brooks Brothers is the Official Clothier of St Andrews Links.

More than 300 VIP guests, customers and media attended the event, where guests could enjoy ‘a wee dram’ of Scotland’s finest malt whiskies The Macallan and Highland Park.