Tag Archives: Textile

Robinson & Dapper by Sarah Robinson

22 May

I’ve been living in Denmark for a few years now.  Fashion and design are a huge part of the culture over here and when I moved here I was immediately entranced by their Scandinavian style.

Being Scottish, I’ve grown up around men wearing kilts, tweed blazers and wool suits, so I have a real appreciation for good quality wool fabrics.  I’ve always appreciated a man who makes an effort to look dapper and was very enthusiastic when my male friends and colleagues began to sport a variety of neckwear; wool bow ties in particular.

However there was one thing which kept nagging at me.  Whenever I inquired about their latest extravagant woolly buy, the only thing could tell me about it, was the name of the very fashionable shop in which they had bought it.  On closer inspection, I began to see a trend of quite costly accessories, with no story, of pretty average to poor quality wool fabric.

I became quite frustrated, thinking of all of the beautiful tweeds being produced at home in Scotland and imagined how much more luxurious and special the ties would be in these fabrics.  It wasn’t that my friends’ purchases were bad, it was more that I knew they could be so much better!

This is how Robinson & Dapper was born.  A few months ago, I began creating handmade bow ties, neck ties and pocket squares from fabrics sourced from historic Scottish mills.  The concept is the juxtaposition of old and new – using high quality, traditional materials yet still achieving a relevant, current look.  The aim being to elevate the modern look of the urban, dapper gentleman by fusing it with classic, luxury fabrics.

By photographer Lee Edward, Molly bow tie

By photographer Lee Edward, Molly bow tie

Each Robinson & Dapper product is an individual, carefully handcrafted item.  The exclusive fabrics have been specially selected to fulfill both aspects of the concept – they are fashion-forward, whilst being woven using traditional methods in Scotland – the home of tweed and woven wool fabrics.

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 I’m extremely proud to see the response of my customers to these accessories.  Many people are genuinely surprised to see and feel the quality of tweed which has actually been woven in Scotland from Scottish wool!  Buying a Robinson & Dapper product is not only about treating yourself to a great-looking, handcrafted bow tie or pocket square.  Here you are getting quality items of historic origin, with a story, which have been made using some of the most beautiful, traditional fabrics available in the world today.

 Check out our website www.robinsonanddapper.com and please share with any dapper gentlemen you know!  So far we are only selling our bow ties on here, but our range of skinny neck ties and pocket squares will be added soon.  Thanks.

 

Author Bio:

Written by Sarah Robinson, owner and founder of Robinson & Dapper.  All images provided by Robinson & Dapper.

 

TweedVixen Style – Spring Tweed

7 May

www.tweedvixen.co.uk

 

Made in England, Organic Cotton T’shirt £29 TweedVixen Boutique

Made in England, Tweed Mini Skirt £145 TweedVixen Boutique

 

Hand Made Harris Tweed Purses.

31 Jan

These super cute tweed purses are the perfect accessory to add a touch of tweed to your life.  They are hand made in Scotland using The finest Harris Tweed.  Measuring at the base 18cm wide and 13cm in height, they can be used as a purse or a small clutch.  Available in the TweedVixen Boutique £25.50

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Perfect Christmas Gifts for Tweed Lovers..

5 Dec

All these items shown are Hand Made in the UK and are available at www.tweedvixen.co.uk

  Harris Tweed Phone Pouch – Aye-Phone Sporran Technology. £18phone covers 016

phone covers 012

Harris Tweed Purse £25.50

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Notebook & Re-Usable Harris Tweed Cover £29.50

312Harris Tweed Cufflinks £15

dan shots tv 006_edited-2dan shots tv 012_edited-1Harris Tweed iPad Sleeve £3013

 

Red Harris Tweed Shoulder Bag

27 Nov

 

This stunning bag is hand-made in Scotland.  Bright Red Harris Tweed with a brown leather strap and brass buckle.

 

Now in stock at TweedVixen Boutique £105

 

 

 

Definition of Tweed..

24 Oct

I was recently asked by the fabulous Audacious Huxley for my definition of tweed.  I thought that the answer would be easy and obvious, until I actually thought about it.  Just parroting the usual Oxford dictionary description; “a rough surfaced woolen cloth, typically of mixed fleck colours, originally produced in Scotland.”  or giving the standard origin story regarding tweed being a misreading of the word twill, whilst all true it seemed an empty answer.

I believe that tweed is a fabric steeped in British Heritage and so for me must be made in the United Kingdom or Ireland. I know that many great Mills around the world make a tweed fabric to different levels of quality, some rather good but to me they are not tweed.  When buying a tweed garment surely part of the appeal is the heritage and the story it tells.

Tweed must be at least 80% wool or it is not tweed! I think it is great how popular tweed is in the high street at the moment but my pet peeve is garments with no wool content being called tweed. I will use  Marks & Spencer as an example, online today they have a skirt that  is described as “Classic Collection Tweed Pencil Skirt” and is priced at a very reasonable £29.50.  However this skirt has no wool content at all, 72%  Polyester,  21% Cotton & 7% Viscose.  This garment has no right to be called tweed…

The delight of tweed is its versatility, it is a beautiful, warm, hard-wearing fabric that can be as colourful or neutral as the personality wearing it.  The texture of tweed means that it can be matched with other items to become either traditional or contemporary.  Tweed changes with the person wearing it and can adapt to any style.

In conclusion, I have released that I am a bit of a tweed snob and I am not sure any short definition can give tweed its full justice.  If forced to produce one, I would say.

“Originating from Scotland and made within the British Isles tweed is a woolen woven fabric. Favored by many for its warm properties, hardiness and unique style.”

I would love to hear what your definition of tweed is…

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