Your Guide to Tweed and Bouclé Clothing | MONELK
Elegant and timeless style is all about understanding your personal aesthetic and how to find unique and versatile clothing that helps you to express it authentically. When it comes to choosing classic wardrobe essentials that will last a lifetime, at MONELK we are dedicated to creating timeless tweed clothing and items with bouclé material. Fashion staples that have been around for hundreds of years, both tweed and bouclé have interesting origins and distinctive characteristics. Let’s dive in to explore more about each.
Origin of Tweed Clothing
Tweed originated in the late 1700s in Scotland and Ireland and was most prominently worn as protective clothing for outdoor work and activities including farming and hunting [reference 1]. It was favoured for its durability, practicality, and thick texture which served as great insulation suitable for cooler climates. During this time, tweed clothing was produced in predominantly earthy tones and was worn by both men and women. Tweed gained popularity amongst English upper classes in the mid 1800s after the conception of estate tweeds, a way for groups to differentiate themselves with their own colour combinations and patterns [reference 1].
Texture of Tweed Clothing
Tweed and Bouclé are both durable and versatile woven fabrics, however there are distinct differences that make each unique. Tweed is made from a medium to heavy weight wool or sometimes a wool-blend fabric and is typically rough in texture and can have an unfinished style. Tweed is made by washing and then fibre-dying raw wool before it is spun. At this stage, the different colours or shades are blended and carded and spun into yarns for weaving [reference 8]. It is common for tweed to either be a plain or twill weave and feature patterns including houndstooth, herringbone with classic colour palettes. In modern times, multi-coloured tweed designs have gained popularity as compared to its earthy toned origins.
When you think of tweed clothing, you may find yourself naturally gravitating towards winter attire. However, due to the weaving process, and especially when mixed with other materials like viscose, the clothing is very light and breathable, making the fabric suitable for both summer and winter. Tweed is great for layering in the autumn and wintertime due to its ability to protect you from the cold and wind. The nature of the fabric also makes it resistant to odours and smells which are helpful as the material lasts best when not overly washed. Tweed is also perfect for summer over a light layer or on bare skin as it breathes well and will regulate your body’s temperature. If you are planning on wearing Tweed directly on your skin, opt for a cotton-wool mix so that it isn’t itchy.
Origin of Bouclé Material
Bouclé material originated in Europe and gained popularity in the US in the 1940s when it began to be used as a comfortable fabric for furniture [reference 3]. The fabric made its transition to the fashion space in the 1950s when fashion designers began incorporating it into their collections as an alternative to tweed.
Texture of Bouclé Material
Bouclé is also usually made from a wool base, and like Tweed, can also be produced with a cotton base mixed with other fabrics like viscose. When produced with a cotton base, the weight is suitable for summer, with wool-based fabrics more suitable for winter. Bouclé is a loosely woven fabric with a multi-dimensional texture created with a looped or curly technique. Bouclé is produced by combining two strands of the bouclé yarn where tension is applied to one strand and leaving the other loose. The double-twisted strands are then piled and the loose strands form the loops with the other remaining as the anchor [reference 3]. It is common to find both tweed and bouclé made with colourful combinations and can sometimes even feature gold, silver, or metallic threads for a luxury look.
Styling Tweed and Bouclé
Now for the fun part, styling these beautiful and heritage fabrics. Tweed clothing and bouclé material are very comfortable and easy to wear fabrics. They are versatile with timeless character that can be worn for any occasion and at any age to suit any style aesthetic given the introduction of brighter tones and patterns in modern times. Tweed and bouclé fabrics can be formulated into incredible dresses, jackets and coats, blazers, skirts and even accessories like handbags and hats. You can wear a tweed or bouclé blazer and skirt combination, and a dress of either fabric with a white shirt styled underneath for refined style and a modern take on a classic. When it comes to caring for your tweed and bouclé items, the material should not be washed in the washing machine as this can change the material’s structure. We suggest taking your tweed and bouclé to a specialised laundry service to ensure the longevity of the material.
Are you ready to invest in your next tweed and/or bouclé clothing item? Make sure to explore our collections available on our website, we specialise in high-quality elegant, timeless, and romantic fashion that you can wear and love for a lifetime. All our clothing is manufactured sustainably in Europe in limited quantities to minimise wastage, we love to advocate for conscious shopping. Also make sure to follow us on Instagram at monelk.official and Facebook at monelkofficial to keep up to date with everything new at MONELK.
References
Reference 1: https://clan.com/blog/history-of-tweed
Reference 2: https://teachyoutosew.com/boucle-fabric-history-properties-uses-care-where-to-buy/
Reference 3: https://blog.treasurie.com/what-is-boucle/
Reference 4: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-tweed#what-are-the-origins-of-tweed
Reference 6: https://theconversation.com/the-story-of-tweed-27013
Reference 7: https://blog.treasurie.com/what-is-tweed/
Reference 8: https://missmaudesewing.co.nz/blogs/miss-maude-musings-1/a-brief-history-of-tweed