If you're looking to upgrade your wardrobe with a new suit, you should consider tweed suit. Tweed suits have long been associated with timeless elegance, durability, and a sense of tradition that few other fabrics can rival. Originating from the rugged landscapes of Scotland and Ireland, tweed was initially designed for functionality—keeping its wearers warm and protected from the harsh elements. However, over the centuries, this sturdy fabric has evolved from outdoor wear to a sophisticated wardrobe staple that is as relevant today as ever.
Whether you prefer a sleek two-piece tweed suit for business meetings or a distinguished three-piece tweed suit for special occasions like a country wedding, tweed offers a unique blend of durability, versatility, and classic appeal. But what exactly makes tweed suits such a valuable addition to your wardrobe? Let’s explore the key benefits.
Warm and Comfort in Cooler Weather
Mens tweed suits offer excellent protection from cold weather. While all suits provide some level of warmth, tweed suits are particularly effective due to their woolen construction. Wool is known for its natural insulation, and the thick, tightly woven fabric of a tweed suit provides superior warmth compared to most other suit materials. This makes tweed an ideal choice for cooler climates and seasons, ensuring you stay comfortable during fall and winter.
Contrary to popular belief, tweed isn't a naturally occurring material; rather, it's created by tightly weaving wool in a twill or herringbone structure. Wool, of course, is highly effective at keeping you warm, making a tweed suit perfect for those chilly months. The dense weave of tweed not only traps heat but also blocks out cold winds, offering protection from the elements during outdoor events or chilly office environments.
How Does Tweed Keep You Warm?
The natural wool fibers in tweed are excellent at trapping heat, making it a highly insulating fabric. Additionally, the dense weave of tweed helps to block out cold winds, making it an ideal choice for staying warm during outdoor events or chilly office environments. Unlike synthetic materials that can feel stuffy or uncomfortable, tweed’s natural fibers allow for breathability, keeping you warm without overheating.
Durability that Lasts Decades
Another reason to consider a tweed suit is their long-lasting durability. Normally, woolen garments aren't very durable. Unlike more delicate materials that fray or lose their structure after repeated wear, tweed is built to last. This heavy, tightly woven woolen fabric was initially crafted to withstand the unpredictable and often harsh weather of the Scottish Highlands. Because of its robust construction, tweed can endure years of use without showing signs of wear and tear.
Why Does Tweed Last So Long?
The key to tweed's longevity lies in its twill weave—a technique that results in a diagonal pattern across the fabric, adding extra strength and resilience. Additionally, the wool fibers used in tweed have a natural elasticity that allows the fabric to stretch and bounce back to its original shape without breaking. The result? A suit that can endure countless wears while retaining its structure and charm.
Investing in a tweed suit means you’re getting a piece that will remain a wardrobe staple for years, if not decades. It’s not uncommon to find vintage tweed suits in excellent condition, a testament to the fabric’s incredible durability.
Variety of Types of Tweed
Not all tweed suits are the same. While they are generally all made of tightly woven wool, there are several unique types of tweed. Harris tweed, for instance, is characterized by a virgin wool construction, whereas Donegal tweed lives up to its namesake by originating in Donegal, Ireland where it's been produced for centuries.
Which of these two types of tweed is best for a suit? You really can't go wrong with either a Harris tweed suit or Donegal tweed suit. They are both considered two of the highest-quality types of tweed. Therefore, if you're looking to buy a tweed suit, you should consider Harris or Donegal. You'll get a better value by choosing a suit made of one of these tweed materials rather than other tweed or even non-tweed materials.
Moisture Resistance
Tweed suits aren't necessarily waterproof, but they do offer a higher level of protection against water and moisture than other types of suits. You can wear a tweed suit in light showers without fear of getting wet. How exactly does a tweed suit keep you dry?
To better understand the moisture-resistant properties of tweed suits, you must first look at their construction. As previously mentioned, tweed suits are made of wool. Wool, especially sheep wool, contains natural liquid compounds known as lanolin that repels moisture. Sheep and other animals grow fur -- which is wool -- to protect them from the elements. Wool contains these same moisture-resistant lanolin compounds. So, if you live in a rainy area, a tweed suit is an excellent choice that's all-but-guaranteed to keep you dry.
Stylish Appearance
Of course, tweed suits offer a stylish appearance. They feature a high-end construction with attractive colors and designs. More importantly, tweed suits often feature patterns that aren't found in other types of suits. Herringbone, for example, is a common pattern used in the construction of tweed suits. Also known as a broken twill weave pattern, it features a V-shaped design that's similar to a chevron pattern. The only difference is that the herringbone pattern goes in the opposite direction.
You can also order tweed suits in custom sizing. StudioSuits is the internet's premier vendor of custom-sized suits, including tweed suits. When you order from our online store, you aren't restricted to choosing a suit in traditional measurements. Rather, you can tell us your body measurements to use in the construction of your preferred suit. Don't make the mistake of purchasing a tweed suit from a local retailer. For the best fit, as well as the greatest value, order a custom-sized tweed suit.
Smooth and Wrinkle Free
If you've ever felt the surface of a tweed suit, you may recall it being smooth and wrinkle free. Tweed suits have a soft and smooth texture that naturally discourages the formation of wrinkles.
Suits often develop wrinkles, but tweed's tightly woven woolen construction makes them less vulnerable to wrinkles than other types of suits.
To preserve the smooth and wrinkle-free texture of your tweed suit, though, you should get into the habit of storing it on clothes hangers. When you aren't wearing your tweed trousers or tweed suit jacket, place them a clothes hanger. When stored on clothes hangers, they won't succumb to wrinkles. Rather, they'll maintain their smooth and wrinkle-free texture.
Tweed is just one of many high-quality materials used in the construction of suits. As you can see, however, it offers a wide range of benefits, some of which include protection from the cold, comfort, long-lasting durability and more. I guess the better question is why shouldn't you choose a tweed suit.
