Tweed was originally created as a weatherproof fabric for rural workers. That is the reason for its modern reputation. It is fascinating how the material was adopted by first landowners who were jealous of Highland traditions and used to identify their Estates. Next, it became a common uniform used for country sports and various pastime activities. Later tweed overtook prestige tailoring and fashion.
What Are The Different Kinds Of Tweed
If you know a little about tweed, you should know that it comes in different types with each having different names. Well, these fall into three categories.
- Tweeds are usually categorized by their place of origins such as Yorkshire or Harris Tweeds.
- Secondly, they are categorized by the breed of sheep they are harvested from such as Shetland or Cheviot Tweed.
- Lastly, tweeds are categorized according to their use or characteristic such as sporting or thornproof tweeds.
What Are The Various Tweed Patterns Available?
Tweed has a very exclusive character and most of the material is produced in various traditional patterns to suit the exclusive character. You should be able to look through different patterns to find the best ones for your preferences. Some of the common tweed designs include the following:
- Unpatterned
- Herringbone
- Barleycone (bird’s eye)
- Houndstooth (dogtooth)
- Windowpane (overcheck)
- Gun club
- Checked
- Prince of wales
- Tartan
- Striped
- Plaid
What Are The Various Materials Used To Make Tweed?
The best tweed is made out of pure new wool. Keep in mind the essential character of tweed is determined by the rich mixture of various colors at the fiber level. Therefore, tweed does not need to be made out of wool alone. As such, tweeds are made out of different materials such as silk, cashmere and much more.
How To Wear Or Use Tweed
Are you wondering how to rock out tweed? Well, you should know that there are different types of garments made out of tweed and they come in different types. As such, it might not be so easy to know how to wear tweed properly. Tweed can be worn in different types of garments such as the following:
- Countrywear
- Outerwear
- Women jackets
- Men jackets
- Skirts
- Suits
- Waistcoats
- Vests
- Dresses
- Trousers
- Hats
- Caps
- Bags
- Accessories
- Shoes
Tweed can also be used for house furniture and furnishings effortlessly. Purchase Harris tweed cushions to add a country style.
How To Take Care Of Tweed
Most woolen products are recommended for dry cleaning only. Alternatively, you can opt for gentle hand-washing of woolen products in cool water. Never use hot water. It is a great alternative for special wools such as cashmere that are not supposed to be dry cleaned.
If you choose to hand wash, you should make sure that it is a great choice for every part of the garment. For instance, you might have jackets that have details such as lining, interfacing and shoulder pads which could be easily damaged after washing. After washing tweed, you should lay it flat on the ground to dry and avoid stretching.
Note that, tweed is mostly resistant to wrinkles so ironing is not completely necessary. If you do not want to hand wash your tweed skirt, you can make it fresh by steaming to kill most of the bacteria and germs and remove odors. Use a mild detergent to remove localized stains carefully or any other approved topical treatment. Use a towel to blot fresh spills carefully to avoid further staining. Avoid rubbing the spots and only rely on spot-cleaning for the best results.
When storing garments made out of tweed, you need to do so in a cedar chest. You can opt for any cool dry place but make sure the garments are well protected from moths. If you are storing your tweed garment for a very long time, bagging is a great idea. Avoid storing your tweed garments in a damp area. Make sure the relative humidity doesn’t exceed 50%. For wool jackets, make sure you hang them on padded or thick hangers to help maintain the shape.
As always, you need to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when it comes to taking care of tweed garments.
Where To Shop For Tweed Garments
Are you looking for the best tweed garments for your wardrobe? Well, tweed is available everywhere so you should not have a hard time finding something. Of course, there are some specialized tweed retailers who might offer their clothes on a higher price but if you are willing to pay for it, there is no harm done.
Even better, you can always shop for tweed garments in old vintage stores that have the best products. There are also online retailers with the best tweed garments for your perusal. When buying online, make sure you confirm the authenticity of the retailer to avoid being duped.
Stand out and shine in tweed effortlessly, thanks to these useful tips you need to know about tweed!
