While cotton-wool may be the most popular type of fabric used in the construction of men's suits, there are other fabrics and materials from which to choose as well, including tweed.
Tweed suits are not only stylish, but they are ultra comfortable as well, offering a greater level of warmth than many other types of suits. But like all fabrics, certain care needs to be given to ensure your tweed suit remains clean, stylish and functional. If this is your first time owning a tweed suit, check out the following care tips listed below.
What is Tweed?
You can't expect to properly care for a tweed suit without fully understanding what this fabric is. Basically, tweed is a type of woolen fabric that resembles homespun woven. There are numerous ways to make tweed, although it is most commonly made by weaving twill or herringbone. The end result is a brilliant, aesthetically pleasing fabric that's ideal for use in suit coats and trousers.
Storage
It's recommended that you store your tweed suit is a climate-controlled environment where the relative humidity is between 40-50%. Storing it in an environment with a relative humidity that's greater than 50% may damage your tweed suit due to moisture saturation. The excess moisture vapor in the air will soak inside the tweed fabric, causing damage to its structural integrity. As a result, your tweed suit may no longer posses the once "crisp" shape that it originally had. You can prevent this from happening, however, by storing your tweed suit in a climate-controlled environment that's not too humid but not too dry.
Spot Cleaning
Stains are bound to occur, no matter how hard you try to prevent them. Before cleaning a stain on your tweed suit, though, you should check the care label to learn which cleaning methods are preferred. Normally, you can remove light/topical stains by spot cleaning them with a washcloth and laundry detergent. Place a small amount of laundry detergent on a damp washcloth and gently blot the stained area of your tweed suit until it comes out.
Can I Iron it?
Unless otherwise stated on the care label, you can usually iron tweed without fear of damaging the fabric. With that said, the great thing about tweed suits is that they are naturally resistant to wrinkles. Tweed maintains its shape and texture with relative ease, meaning you shouldn't have to iron it -- not often, at least.
