“If wool shrinks when you wash it, why don’t sheep get smaller when it rains?” – Ron Brackin.
Wool – one of the great natural materials of the world. Appreciated as an effective form of clothing since the Stone Age, wool is a protein fibre formed in the skin of sheep and one of the most effective forms of all-weather protection known to man and woman. What’s more, it is 100% natural.
With the ‘wooly’ facts out of the way, it is time to announce the launch of the new Townhouse Tweed cloth for Wool Week – yes, there really is a dedicated week for this carbon emission reducing fibre.
Kicking off proceedings in the Georgian tailoring townhouse of JP Hackett, Nicholas Coleridge CBE, and Chairman of The Campaign for Wool launched the celebration of Wool Week 2021 to media, retailers, designers, and supporters of the wool Campaign.
Hosted by Mr Jeremy Hackett himself (and his two very well-behaved dogs), attendees were treated to a rousing address on the benefits of wool and the introduction to the new JP Hackett Townhouse Tweed.
Developed in collaboration with Lovat Mill, Scotland’s premier weaver of Estate and Regimental Tweeds, the Hackett Townhouse Tweed uses a 29-micron Cheviot wool yarn blended with wools from New Zealand and the UK. The wool yarn is spun, woven and finished in the UK. The New Zealand wool imparts softness to the handle whilst the British wool adds durability, a perfect wool combination.
Inspired by the colourful characters of the Hackett Savile Row Townhouse, such as the green room, the orange bar and the yellow room, the Lovat Mill Cheviot Townhouse Tweed quality is typified by woollen spun processing, using rich colour mixtures and blending which give the cloth its depth of colour intensity and lively character. Based on a more traditional plaid the design is given a contemporary twist with the modern colour palette.
From double breasted overcoats coats, to three-piece suits and even a dog coat, the Townhouse tweed can be introduced into a variety of fashionable pieces for both man, woman and pooch.
Speaking at the launch, Jeremy Hackett commented, “I’ve always been passionate about tweed and when I started Hackett in the early eighties, we started by selling second hand clothes, the most successful part of it was selling tweed…we could never get enough of it. So, we decided to start making new clothes and in particular new tweeds, they sold exceptionally well, and the business took off from there.”
Ruth Duff, Lovat and the new Townhouse Tweed Designer said “Lovat Mill was delighted to be asked by Jeremy to help design and produce the new Townhouse Tweed. From CAD to cloth, the process illustrates perfectly Lovat Mill’s combining of latest technology with traditional skills to create an exclusive tweed that will be enjoyed for many years to come.”
So why should you be interested in this latest launch?
Wool’s superior qualities make it is the most responsible fibre to choose for the planet. Its eco and environmental biodegradable properties as well as its longevity of wear make it the stylish option for those fashionable forays. Plus, who doesn’t want to wear matching tweed with their dogs?
Edward Lumley is Editor-in-Chief for Of Wealth & Life and a Freelance Men’s Fashion Writer. Edward has written for publications such as FashionBeans, Harrods and a variety of online outlets specialising in Men’s fashion for the past eight years. Follow Edward on Instagram.
