Types of tweed fabrics and tweed clothing

Tweed is popular not only in its homeland - in Scotland, but in general, all over the world. Sometimes they jokingly say: tweed created a man, and thanks to Chanel, also a woman. Initially, this fabric was used for men's jackets, and since the end of the 20s of the last century it has become a full-fledged women's material.

Tweed follows invariably from season to season, creating comfort and warmth in our wardrobe. Today we will learn a little about this fabric and why it is so popular.

Tweed - river, flowing along the border of England and Scotland. In it, back in Middle Ages local weavers washed the wool. It was this river that gave the name to the fabric. However, there is another version, more entertaining, which tells that one of the London traders misread the written word tweel, which means a special way of twill weave, reading it as tweed.

In medieval England, wool was highly valued and was considered one of the most precious assets of the kingdom.

The chemical composition of wool is a protein - keratin.

Tweed is a woolen fabric with a small pile, usually in plain, twill or diagonal weave. The material is soft and pleasant to the touch. Originally, tweed was an artisanal plain weave fabric. It was made from hand-made wool and obtained quite coarse varieties. The warp threads were monochromatic, and the weft threads were multicolored.

The regional affiliation of the "man in tweed" could be determined by the quality of the fabric and its characteristic pattern. At least the main character of Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes, who himself was dressed in tweed clothes, would certainly determine who and where. Famous English writers Agatha Christie and Dickens also dressed their characters in tweed, probably because the tweed suit has always been a classic symbol of beauty and elegance in England.

Nowadays, tweed is called all fabrics that imitate handwork, have a rough surface and a special characteristic tweed color scheme. Among the variety of fabrics called tweed, there are those in which the surface is permeated with knots and, thanks to the multicolored duck, are distinguished by a picturesque color. There are knitted fabrics that mimic the look of tweed.

Genuine tweed, as in the Middle Ages, is now woven from hand-spun fabrics. And therefore they get a characteristic roughness, elasticity and light hairiness. Handmade tweeds always have their admirers. People with good taste and style do not spare money on tweed of this unique texture and unusual color. The color scheme of a tweed suit can highlight the wearer's ability to look stylish and elegant. Tweed will create your individual look, you will not be "like everyone else".

Tweed clothing protects well from cold, wind and even rain, because wool absorbs moisture rather slowly. Loved by the British and Scots, tweed, comfortable and elegant, has been and remains popular all over the world.

Tweed has become the basis of fashionable looks since the late 20s - early 30s of the last century. In the mid-20s, light, soft and expensive wool fabrics were fashionable, which had such unusual names among fashionistas - "porridge", "burafil". They were made from the wool of Tibetan goats. Gabrielle Chanel really liked English tweed, at that time she had the best relations with the Duke of Westminster, and at the same time with England, and therefore she successfully worked with tweed.

Chanel created a look from a tweed skirt and sweater, complementing it with her famous faux pearl beads.She has always produced a stunning effect with her pullovers and tweed suits, and this Chanel style has been repeated and repeated by fashionistas of all time. In 1954, a tweed suit with a collarless jacket decorated with braid became known as the Chanel suit. Since then, this image in different versions and interpretations has appeared in the collections of many famous designers.

Today, tweed remains the focus of designers' attention. Tweed is not only warm, but also stylish. Products made from this fabric are extremely modern today, because they allow you to create a unique and irresistible image.

In the 60s of the last century, the passion for synthetics reached its greatest peak. The space age influenced the fashion of that time, a new era that changed our life and our clothes promised endless prospects ... Today many of us have a new attitude towards everything natural, and people want to have fabrics that are truly luxurious. Tweed suit, which shows the skill in each weave of threads, finds its admirers. It can be called a favorite of the autumn-winter seasons.

Tweed is a fairly durable material and, thanks to a special twill weave of threads, it almost does not wrinkle. The fabric is highly stretchable and resilient. That is why tweed fabrics in products retain their shape and wrinkle a little.

New technologies make it possible to create a variety of imitations that repeat both the properties and appearance of the original, but real tweed remains an exclusive material, because its creation is akin to art. Now, in addition to the classic ones, there are many different tweed fabrics in modern versions with exotic yarns or with original textures and colors.

Tweed fabrics today are mainly made by machine, but there are also those that are woven on hand looms from hand-made yarns.

Harris tweed

Especially valuable and unique tweed - "harris"named for its place of origin. The fabric is distinguished by its characteristic surface texture and color characteristic of its homeland - Scotland, has excellent wear resistance and is available in a variety of colors.

Tweed - "Donegal" resembles homespun fabric, made in County Donegal, Ireland. This fabric is characterized by colored nodules that spread unevenly over the entire surface. Some fabrics that mimic the look of this tweed are also called "donegal".

Cheviot - a rather coarse fabric of twill weave, the name was given by the name of the sheep breed. The wool of these sheep is usually gray or black. In England, this type of tweed is used for sewing tracksuits.

Covercot fabric - this is also tweed. It has a small and variegated pattern, in which the warp thread is of one color, and the weft thread consists of two colors. As a rule, this fabric is popular among horse riding enthusiasts for jackets, but coats are also sewn from it. Covert was originally widespread in the Scottish countryside.

Chaumbray fabric has a variegated background, in which a combination of threads of natural natural color in different tones.

There are tweed fabrics that have a special picturesque coloring, with a "washed out" color scheme - an uneven blotch of color.

Chevron fabric has a characteristic herringbone pattern, and also refers to tweed materials. The group of tweed fabrics includes the “diagonal” twill weave.

There is one more for sewing hunting clothes tweed fabric - bedford cord... This warm, but quite heavy fabric differs from other tweed fabrics in a wave-like pattern. It is not intended for warm rooms, but in cold weather, especially for the villagers.

Lace Tweed - lace, unusually light and voluminous fabric, the weft of which is made of yarn, and the warp is made of twisted thread.

And how many more fabrics that are not actually tweeds, but just very similar to them. All these fabrics, together with tweeds, are a powerful team that will never give up their positions.In one season, designers and fashionistas turn to black and white tweeds, in another - red and white, in the third - red and black, blurred, etc.

Contemporary elegance continues to appeal to the classics. And tweed remains the benchmark for quality and excellence in weavers' craftsmanship. Tweed fabrics have another advantage - they do not require special care. But since this is a woolen fabric, it is better to wash tweed products by hand, of course, you should not soak them first. During washing, it is recommended to use the same special products that are intended for wool.

If you are not prone to appreciating your belongings or are in a hurry, wash in the washing machine, but set it to a low temperature, as the high temperature can shrink tweed items.

Dry products on a horizontal surface to avoid deformation. Iron tweed items only from the wrong side using a damp cloth.

Outerwear - coats or jackets are best dry cleaned. Therefore, if you love your thing and want to extend its life, use dry cleaning.

Tweed products will help create a unique and irresistible look. Tweed clothing is not only about comfort, it is about sophisticated style.

Tweed - Donegal