Tweed has had a reputation in the past for being a rather itchy fabric, mainly worn by ageing university professors. However, men’s tweed jackets have become extremely popular in recent years and now feature in many fashion-conscious men’s wardrobes.

There are a few theories about how the name Tweed was developed. Some believe it is from the Scottish Tweed Valley (the River Tweed); or from the Scottish word for the fabric weave – ‘tweel’ or ’twill’. The story goes that in 1826 a clerk in London incorrectly transcribed the word as ‘tweed’ and the name stuck.

The most common theory behind its emergence in Ireland and Scotland was that it was a hard-wearing, water and wind resistant fabric for farmers to wear in the damp, chilly conditions. It was originally hand-woven and produced in muted colours.

Gentlemen’s Tweed

The beginning of the nineteenth century saw tweed become popular with English noblemen as they acquired estates in Scotland – prompted in part by Prince Albert’s purchase of Balmoral in 1848. The Balmoral Tweed was designed and other estate owners followed suit, commissioning their own individual estate tweeds. The colours chosen tended to reflect the hues of the land itself, mainly to provide camouflage when hunting. Tweed was considered the ideal attire for sport in the late 19th and early 20th century. It was very quickly adopted by sporting gentlemen of the aristocracy, who wore it for almost every sporting event, including shooting, hunting, fishing, cycling, tennis, mountain-climbing and golf.

Today tweed is a popular fabric and has been adapted for all sorts of occasions, including business wear. There are many different types of tweed, named after the region they originated, the sheep that produced the wool or for their function. There are also various different brands of tweed, one of the most well known being Harris Tweed. The Campaign for Wool stated in 2013 that the previous 5 years had seen a significant revival in Tweed with the sale of Harris Tweed alone increasing by 400% and 8 new mills opening in the past 10 years.

Patterns

Men’s tweed jackets come in a huge array of different weaves and patterns; each has its own individual characteristics. From checked to striped, tartans and plaids, there is a tweed to suit every occasion or desired style. It is probably as close as you might get to a national dress in Britain. No longer reserved for landed gentry, the cloth has become an indispensable aspect of the discerning gentleman’s wardrobe.

Feel free to contact us for more information or to order your men’s tweed jackets.

The post A History of Men’s Tweed Jackets appeared first on Joseph Turner News.