Balvenie is doing a great service to traditional crafts, and events like this don't only promote them but go towards redressing the balance of damage done to fragile traditional industries attempting to survive in highly competitive consumer markets.
The Lewis and Harris weavers may be an extreme example, as an unscrupulous racketeer attempted to corner the market in tweed from the Western Isles by tricking them into producing for his global outlets, when in fact he was stock-piling. He went bust leaving warehouses full of Harris and Lewis tweed which were dumped on the market by the liquidators. This, as it happens, could have worked out worse than it did, as the stock appeared in outlets like TK's and other low cost high street shops and was available to consumers who would otherwise never have had the contact or opportunity to purchase such high quality produce at such prices.
I personally bought a Harris Tweed jacket for £30, although unlabelled as such - normal cost upward of £150.
It remains to be seen whether or not this has actually damaged the base market and perceived exclusivity of tweed from the Western Isles, although I believe this has prompted a new vision of co-operative production and marketing.
Great stuff though and well done The Balvenie, and lang mai their lums reek!
