TWEED

What is tweed?

Origins of tweed

Tweed originated in Scotland and Ireland, specifically in the Irish county of Donegal. It is a carded wool, meaning it is only combed to remove impurities and nothing more. This process helps retain its suint: the greasy preparations of sheep's wool that provide thermal and aquatic insulation. Tweed is made with a "twill" weave, an interlocking weaving pattern that offers resistance and shows fewer creases than classic fabrics. All these hand-woven components give it a rustic appearance, but its properties are essential for facing the harsh climatic conditions of these regions. Originally, the wool used was from "blackface" sheep, the Scottish Blackface. Today, this wool is only used for carpets, as it is considered too coarse and heavy. Cheviot sheep wool has replaced it.

The word "tweed" is said to have two origins. The first, semantic, comes from the fact that "twill" in Scots (the local language spoken in Scotland and Ireland with Germanic connotations) would be translated as "tweel." Legend has it that a clerk receiving a letter referring to "tweels" confused it with the River Tweed, part of which forms the border with England.

Tweed throughout the years

Tweed gained popularity when British high society became enamored with this fabric, robust yet elegant, and so practical for country activities. Previously the preserve of peasants who wove it for their own use, tweed became an economic stake. It was from the 19th century that Tweed underwent a real change. In 1840, Lady Dunmore, wife of the Lord of Harris, undertook to boost the local economy by promoting Harris Tweed. It was manufactured in the Harris Isles, part of the Outer Hebrides. In 1993, an Act of Parliament labeled Harris Tweed, precisely defining the manufacturing conditions for Harris Tweed. In 1848, Prince Albert acquired the Balmoral estate and created Balmoral Tweed, a tweed in granite stone colors to blend in with the environment.

The industrial revolution was underway, and the expertise surrounding tweed supported entire regions. It was Prince Albert's son, the future Edward VII, an aesthete and initiator of men's fashion - the tuxedo was specially invented for him, as he wanted a lighter alternative to the tailcoat for dinner - who brought tweed into men's wardrobes. In the 1950s, Coco Chanel took up this fabric to create one of her iconic pieces: her famous tweed jacket. The first version of this jacket was designed in 1920. Gabrielle Coco Chanel's inspiration came from her lover, the Duke of Westminster, who, like a true gentleman, wore tweed jackets for his hunts on his estate of Reay Forest, in Sutherland, in the northwest Highlands. It always comes back to Scotland.

Tweedchasse and tweed

Tweed offers a very varied palette of colors, weights, and manufacturing processes. This wool fabric has captivated fashion enthusiasts for centuries. The most famous is Harris Tweed, but you also have Donegal Tweed produced in Ireland, Saxony Tweed which, as its name suggests, originates from Saxony, Cheviot Tweed, Shetland Tweed from the Shetland Islands in Scotland, Gamekeeper Tweed, and Sporting Tweed, highly prized by camouflage enthusiasts... There's something for every taste.

At Tweedchasse, tweed is our raison d'être. It is the love for this fabric and the values it carries - craftsmanship, the great outdoors, hunting... - that make us want to offer more and more items made from this beautiful material. We attach fundamental importance to quality, favoring tweeds with a very high proportion of wool. Because we want articles that last over time, in order to build long-term relationships with our customers. Alan Paine, Laksen, Chrysalis, Schneiders Salzburg... Each of the brands we distribute has this unshakeable desire to offer the best tweed there is. All you have to do is see for yourself, don't you agree?