Tweed fabric
Wool (often Scottish – Harris Tweed). A thick twill or herringbone weave of multi-coloured woollen yarns.
How it feels
Rough, thick and warm.
Season: Autumn and winter – it keeps you warm.
What it's used for
Jackets, coats, skirts, caps.
A tweed jacket with jeans or cords is the classic British autumn look.
Pros
- Very warm and almost indestructible
Cons
- Heavy and can itch
Care: a typical label
Always follow your own garment's label – blends and finishes change the care.
How it's constructed
Twill weave. Threads pass over two or more crosswise threads, stepping along each row – making diagonal lines. Denser, drapier, hard-wearing and good at hiding marks.
A little history
Tweed is the cloth of Scottish and Irish farmers. Harris Tweed is hand-woven in the Outer Hebrides and protected by law.
How to recognise it
Read the surface: diagonal lines mean twill, shiny and slippery means satin, a raised nap means pile, sideways stretch means a knit.
Sustainability
A weave's footprint depends on the fibre it's made from – check the composition on the label.
When buying
The same weave behaves differently in different fibres: silk and polyester satin look alike, but only silk breathes. Always read the composition.
Frequently asked
01What is tweed?
Wool (often Scottish – Harris Tweed). A thick twill or herringbone weave of multi-coloured woollen yarns.
02Is tweed a natural fabric?
It's a weave or knit – whether it's natural depends on the fibre it's made from.
03Does tweed shrink?
Yes – tweed shrinks in hot water and the dryer, especially as a knit. Wash at 30 °C and dry without heat.
04Is tweed breathable?
Moderately: it depends on the weave – open tweed breathes far better than dense.