Trend Tracking

TIMELESS TWEED:

TREND TRACKING. -

‘Tweed is a rough, naturally waterproof woollen fabric, which, until now, implied you own a country house, and enjoy shooting animals at weekends.’ (Hobbs, 2016)

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TREND TRACKING.

This season, Tweed has been transformed from, ‘a robust traditional or rural character,’ (Evans, 2013) it now represents a classy yet chic persona thanks to Chanel’s interpretation of the fabric.

The trend has trickled down from couture runway shows, particularly Lagerfeld’s Chanel Spring 18 Couture Catwalk, down to major high-street retailers.

The fabric was first invented in the 1800s for farmers to endure British winters and was not worn by women until the 1880s. ‘From 1829 onwards, Tweed was transformed from hodden grey cloth, a local craft product made in the Borders of Scotland, into a fashion textile woven in a factory.’ (Anderson, 2006) Fashion designers like Chanel then realised the comfortable yet sophisticated eminence of the fabric and ‘began producing her iconic Tweed fabrics for everything from sportswear, to suits and coats.’ (Friedlander, 2014) Women took to wearing Tweed in the 1880s, then it became iconic in the 1930s after a TV show about ‘Miss Marple,’ featured the protagonist wearing a variety of country style Tweed suits. In more recent years it is perceived to be less countryside, and more haute couture fashion. ‘It swept the rest of the Milanese runways. Tweed this and Tweed that soon rolled into a bigger story called.. Texture.’ (Lowethorpe, 1999) Tweed was adopted by the likes of Chanel, Chloe and John Galliano in the 2000s creating a glamorous appeal to the fabric.

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This season, ‘Chanel’ Tweed and boucle is being interpreted in ways it has never been before, creating new shapes and dimensions from the fabric, as well as also maintaining classic styles that couture houses in Paris, made famous.

The fabric has gained a youthful attractiveness due to the innovative styles that the catwalk is seeing. Chanel originally produced her Tweed in classic two-piece sets which high-street retailers use to inspire their Co-Ord sets, however this season Chanel are modifying their Tweed fabrics in new, inventive styles. Retailers like Zara and River Island have followed and are also transforming the classic ‘Chanel inspired’ Tweed into embellishments and contemporary clothing features. Spring Summer 2018 brings a new range of colours and silhouettes to Tweed fabric, introducing, colour ways and adaptions of the traditional fabric.