Being a tweed lover, its only natural that I will post about National Tweed Day! The event is observed every year on the 3rd of April. Apparently it has various origins. Some believe it is celebrated to recognise senator-turned-crook William Tweed of New York City. He was born on April 3, 1823. He died in 1878 in jail, after being caught stealing millions dollars from NYC public money. ………Others believe that National Tweed Day celebrates the tweed fabric.
As you can imagine I prefer to believe the latter!
…and in celebration!
The Tweed Run held in London this year on Saturday 5 May will be a spectacle to witness! Around 750-1000 cyclists, immaculately clad in tweed, descend on Regent Street. It will be a sight to behold as a sea of tweed rolls down the major thoroughfares of London. You can view pictures from last years London event here.
Below images of the Tweed Run in various countries.
The History of Tweed……
Tweed’s history begins centuries ago on the Isles of the Scottish Outer Hebrides where islanders made fabric to battle the harsh winters. It was hand-woven by crofters using their own wool. They called it Clò Mór in Gaelic – ‘The big cloth’.
By the end of the 18th century it had started to become a staple industry for islanders – they started exporting cloth to the Scottish mainland.
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abmatic/1262234510/)
A twill weave – tweel in Scots. Mistaken for Tweed by a London Merchant who assumed a Trade Name associated with the River Tweed running through the Scottish Borders.
Celebrate National Tweed Day by wearing something tweed!
You will always find tweed accessories in my Etsy shop!
info& images via http://www.emmacornes.com & http://www.tweedrun.com
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