Tactile, soft, breathable, warm, sustainable, fabulous wool tweed!

I fell in love with tweed way back when, as a fashion graduate I set up my first clothing label with friend and fellow graduate, Naomi, and we created a line of funky tweed suits for the fashion elite of London, selling through our trendy, and very bijou store in Islington.

Fast forward a couple of decades and here I am now, still creating and working with tweed, but now in my home town of Ludlow, Shropshire and concentrating on a slower evolution of fashion. Designing and producing limited runs of contemporary pieces that will work in your wardrobe for many years.

There is a beauty and versatility that draws me back to 100% wool tweed every time. The colours are never flat or brash, wool absorbs dyes deeply, the natural yarn softens the colours, and the blend of fibres create a depth and richness of hue, whether that’s in the more rustic handwoven Harris Tweeds or the more refined Merino Lambswool.

The cloth is also hugely adaptable, lending itself to both refined tailoring and softer silhouettes. The cloth has a natural elasticity which allows it to return to shape – wool fibre can be bent 20,000 times without breaking and still have the power to recover. This makes it supremely comfortable to wear as well as incredibly durable.

This fabulous cloth is tactile, breathable, warm , sustainable and eco friendly – old wool can be reused in insulation and geo-textiles, as well as being an effective compost as it slowly releases nitrogen rich nutrients back into the soil. Treat it well and it will last you a life time.

I source a variety of tweeds, all lending themselves to contemporary country womenswear pieces. From the robust Scottish handwoven Harris tweeds, through to super soft speckly Irish Donegals, to machine woven Shetlands and Lambswool from Yorkshire, in a variety of traditional weaves from herringbones, twills, plaids and the occasional estate tweed.

My favourite wool for late spring/ early summer is the Merino Lambswool, which is soft and luxurious, with beautiful handle and drape. I have used it in a number of waistcoats, perfect for this time of year to team with a crisp cotton shirt or a lightweight knit. We also have it coming through in a number of short jackets and skirts ( presently stuck in production)… to be online shortly. So watch this space.

Clare x