From Fashion Outcast to High Street Wear

Tweed is often defined as a rough and coarse fabric traditionally woven with hands. Usually made from wool, it can either be plain or twill woven. It may also have a check or herringbone pattern. Although it was most often preferred back in the days for certain types of outdoor activities due to its moisture-resistant and durable qualities, tweed has until recently suffered a negative image and been a design outcast in the world of fashion. This was because the kind of tweed that was developed and worn then was boring, bulky and unfashionable.

In the 1950s, however, tweed began experiencing a transformation when an acclaimed designer began to integrate this element into her designs, bringing this type of woven fabric to the world of high fashion from its utilitarian roots. That designer introduced a different kind of "tweed" to the world and showed that this popularly functional wear could also be elegant and chic.

Today, tweed has fully invaded high street fashion as it is now seen as a serious fashion fabric. In these times, we see different kinds of tweed in various colours, sometimes even in gorgeous pastel tones. Tweed has also vastly improved in terms of its weight; most of the ones that we have now are not as bulky and the fabrics seem refreshingly new. Indeed, with the tweed advocates invading the fashion scene, this clothing type has made the journey from being a functional fashion outcast to a trendy designer wear option.

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