Are we not, with the odd exception, getting a bit hacked off with it? All right, some of the US versions can have pleasing styling details, but most of those to be found in England seem just a touch uninteresting. They seem to go for it in France - selling it, laughably, in their dopy Irish-themed shops. I must have seen two or three dozen examples this morning; nothing in Donegal, which seems to me just a little more desirable. I do love tweed, but it's got to be exactly the right texture and colour. I was well pleased with a wool and cashmere Italian sports jacket I bought this morning for £15.
The Harris reputation has been destroyed by the ridiculous restrictive business practicesof Brian Haggas. It has been reported that he has over 50,000 chinese tailored Harris tweed jackets in his warehouse.
It will take years for the brand to recover. There are some independent weavers, e.g. Breanish and Butt of Lewis, who offer some interesting designs. You can buy direct online for about £10 per metre.
I've bought Donegal. Now I've bought Harris - again. Yet I'm still in two minds about it. The Donegal I find pleasing, although I would say the jacket is borderline Ivy, nothing more. The Stanley Blacker Harris is more Ivy in its overall look (but darted, ouch). I was examining Harris tweed jackets in a local country store (now closed down) in 2018 and thought them highly sodding awful. The owner swore blind he never sold anything from China.
I dunno. Moose said he thought they were too heavy for Ivy (at least, I think that's what he said). Others disagreed.
The essence of a natural shoulder sack jacket is that it is relaxed and drapes off the wearer, Harris tweed is too heavy and stiff to do this, it’s also uncomfortably hot in many situations. I much prefer the feel and weight of Donegal.
Bishop was a good poster. Provided good local info for Kingston and Hampton area.
I think somebody wound him up.
Wasn't there once a 'blog' called 'Heavy Tweed Jacket'? I was wearing tweed jackets before I ever knew the phrase 'Ivy League', just as I was wearing, on and off, moleskins and tweed overcoats. They were simply 'an alternative' to what I was seeing around me: middle-market leisure wear, in John Cooper Clarke's immortal words (only it comes out as 'leesure'). It was deliberate 'Old Man'. Most of these jackets would have been Harris. Maybe all. They used to turn up from time to time in charity shops - now they seem to adorn most 'vintage' shops. I saw an entire rail of the buggers in Chester back in 2011. Something to do with 'Doctor Who'. It was the Blacker name that sold me on this. It's intended to be worn with a flannel shirt, Levis and sneakers.
I quite like Harris Tweed jackets, but I don't have any now. If I saw a decent one I might buy it. I like the old geography teacher look, slightly subverted.
Too natural a shoulder doesn't look so good on me since I broke my collarbone in a cycling accident and the healing process left a raised bump on my shoulder.
I've always like an HTJ, I bought one from BB's in Regent St in 2010, non darted, two patch, but 4 button cuff, first time I wore it on a visit to Chiltern St,(just after they opened I think), JS admired it, asked where I bought it, then called to Paul ' Brooks are still making good jackets', no more I'm afraid, I got a Boston Tailors from Chiltern St 6/7 years ago, TBH I'm still breaking it in, got it for a ' negotiated' price, when I was there recently I think the full price of the few they have hanging around is about 850 quid,
Robbie - the new HTJ's in Chiltern St are very nice, ( & TBH fairly good value ), if you can find your size.....
‘Deliberate “Old Man?? ’ is far better, IMO, than ‘ponytail and earring grandad’.
Marks and Spencer always had decent Harris tweed jackets in their sales until comparatively recently.
Heavy Tweed jacket was the best trad blog ever imho. It had a big influence on me.
Deliberate “Old Man?? ’ is far better, IMO, than ‘ponytail and earring grandad’.
Agree 100 %
With my balding head a pony tail would not be a good look. It doesn't stop some old bald men, sadly. I don't do jewelry so no ear rings and tattoos a big no-no. I have been thinking about buying a gold necklace recently however. Too much mixing with my football mates I suppose.
Thanks for the tip on the HTJ Stax. I'm now under lock and key back in Finland with my wife watching my every move like a hawk. Freedom will return in January when I get back to blighty. I'll probably pay a visit to JS then