Tweed

We've talked about Tartan before, but there's another fabric that originated in the Scottish highlands. And that's Tweed. It was produced in the early 18th century and it was a strong fabric that could take a beating. Because it repelled water and wind, it was extremely suitable for workwear on the land. As with many other well-known fabrics, the origin of Tweed is very practical in the form of clothing. It had to keep you warm and dry during your travels and it had to last a long time.

Around 1850, tweed also acquired a sporty character. Prince Albert entered Balmoral Castle in Scotland. And with him there were more aristocrats who entered a residence in Scotland. There were regular outdoor activities at Balmoral Castle such as hunting, fishing or horseback riding. To be able to distinguish each other, everyone came in their own designed tweed. That of the royal family is; Balmoral Tweed.

It was in the 20s that Coco Chanel put on her husband's sportswear. And the idea came to make a collection for women. This is how the iconic Chanel 'look' was created. And it also became cloth worn by women. Progressive women even had special tweed suits made at the end of the 19th century so that they could move more freely.

It was not until the 1960s that Tweed became more accessible to young people. There was also much more experimentation with contrasting colors and abstract shapes. Which gave it a much more youthful and modern character and young people wanted to be seen in it.