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Dick does Tweed

One has seen many a fabric drape one’s person but let me tell you, nothing compares to Harris Tweed, oh no. I like the old timey, deep-rooted history that blankets it and by God so should you. It belongs on the most dapper dandies and the most beddable beauties, so I’d like to throw a little DW history at you and instill some tweedy swathed wisdom, so do stick around and enjoy.

Ah yes, tweed. It’s nifty, warm and quite frankly, fantastic. It’s also been around since before little Dick was even a twinkle. Yes the middle of the 19th century saw the birth of this rather spiffing fabrication, and the divine little Isle of Harris was where all the fun began. The Earl of Dunmore, a man of exquisite taste, and his most darling Lady Dunmore rather quickly procured themselves a well-earned reputation with a few confreres of the dandy profession.  Remaining splendidly woven in the Isle itself, business boomed, drinks were shared (Martini’s one would imagine) and Harris Tweed was En Route to royalty! I mean that quite literally, royalty were sporting it, and still imbibing Martinis, hurrah! Much like any successful product, replicators sought to swindle and duplicate, and so shortly afterwards it was declared a textile so incredible, they had to put their name on it. A magnificent triumph which dawned the legendary trademarked orb.

Loom in Action

Remaining hand woven, a tweed necessity, the Hebrideans took looms into their own homes, ensuring a wonderfully long reign of the fabric.  It was dear to their hearts and kept the isle afloat, in a manner of speaking, so hundreds rallied behind. However in a rather unfortunate and traumatic turn of events, Harris Tweed’s popularity declined in the decades after, where is the taste I say! But I mustn’t digress, I shall gather myself and fold away the handkerchief, old Dick always gets a happy ending.

Mark Hogarth – Creative Director and all-round stylish gentleman

Although the 80’s and 90’s weren’t kind to tweed, or indeed any of us, a company of the heroic variety swooped in and propelled the fabric into marvelously splendid heights of new business, the likes of which were yet to be seen by the isle. Today Harris Tweed’s status is world renowned, and as a man of stupendous taste who wears only the most pleasant of fabric, the comeback kid of the Hebrides is certainly worthy of adorning oneself in. Do you have your favourite tweed lurking in your wardrobe? Just remember, the perfect pair of tweed trousers feel even better with a pair of my classic DW’s underneath. Try them and never look back.

Genuinely British Attire – Complete your look with a DW Boxer

Till next time!

Dick

Classic Dirty Martini

2 1/2 oz (75 mL) vodka or gin

1/2 oz (15 mL) vermouth

1/2 oz (15 mL) olive juice (brine solution from a jar of cocktail olives)

Cocktail olives (one or a few)

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