Ask Mr. Tweed

Dear Mr. Tweed,

I am about to purchase my first tweed jacket (I've decided on buying a hacking one). I'm looking to import one from the British isle and have some question marks about the various fabrics. Here goes; Is Bladen tweed a quality of tweed or brand, and if is a brand does it stand for a specific kind of cloth like Harris does? What, would you say, is the difference between Harris and Blande tweed?
I hope that this will not be to much of a challenge for you and await your response with great anticipation!

Dear Jacob,

Since your question is of a specific nature, I will answer it right away. First of all, I was happy to hear that a tweed jacket is about to enter your wardrobe. I am convinced you will find it a versatile addition indeed.

Bladen is a brand for high quality country clothing made by Wensum Tailoring, who also supply several Savile Row tailors with MTO and RTW jackets and suits. It is not a brand or quality of tweed, but Bladen are renowned for their Supasax tweed, a dense but soft saxony (lambswool) tweed. They are also acclaimed for their signature hacking jacking style.

Regarding Harris TweedA quality handwoven tweed made in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. , it is an iconic fabric indeed (especially outside UK), still hand woven in Scotland from British sheep (cheviot) wool, giving it an open and rugged structure. Today it is made in lighter qualities but the high loft makes it look heavier.

Harris Tweed gives a more academic and down to earth impression whereas the Bladen type sporting tweed gives a slightly aristocratic look and associations to country sport activities. I personally prefer the more solid structure of the sporting tweeds, giving thorn-proof performance to my garments.

I hope these answers help you in your quest for a genuine tweed hacking jacketA sports jacket initially designed for riding. Usually a longer length tweed jacket with flapped slanted pockets, ticket pocket and center vent., and do have a look at the Bladen jackets in our on-line store.

Yours,
Mr. Tweed

Thank you, I found your answer very informative indeed. I have taken more than one look on the jackets here already but decided that I need to find something more suited to my financial situation. It was very good to get the term saxony tweed sorted out I've come across it many times. The search continues!

/Jacob S