Why Irish Wool & Tweed are the Best Choices for Hats and Caps

Weaving is a traditional skill that has played a very important role in the development of modern-day Ireland, and it has been a source of income and independence for many families and artisans for centuries. Irish weavers have developed their skills to create unique and beautiful clothing and homewares that have become family heirlooms and have been passed on through the generations. Irish hats and caps are just one of the many symbols of Irish heritage that pay homage to their craft.

Irish identity is woven on the looms of the communities who carved a living here, especially through such difficult times as the Great Famine, in which people were dependent upon their skills and resources. Those who were able to use their knitting and weaving skills to sustain their families also played a vital role in history by preserving these skills and the knowledge that came with them. Today, our wool and tweed hats and caps are still made by local artisan craftspeople, and they use only the finest wool and tweed to create these statement pieces.

 

Irish Weavers in History

Irish weavers have long been central to the Irish economy, and materials such as linen, cotton, silk and wool have played their part in the creation of beautiful products that have become popular all over the world. However, wool and wool tweed are the most popular materials for our woven garments today, and this is due to their practicality and durability as well as the way they look and feel. We work with weaving specialists at long-established companies such as Branigan Weavers and Mucros Weavers, who are inspired by the Irish countryside and use only the finest materials to create their stunning designs.

Archaeologists have discovered ancient fragments of weaving and stone spinning whorls that prove that Ireland’s history of weaving goes back millennia. In fact, in 600-800AD, it was set into Brehon Laws in Ireland that a woman could keep her spindles, wool bags and a share of her yarn and spun wools if she was divorced. This is an incredible example of the law recognising weaving as an essential lifeline that enabled women to sustain themselves financially at this time, and is fundamental to the proud history of weaving in Ireland.

 

Our Artisan Weavers

Today, the top names in Irish weaving include Mucros Weavers, Branigan and John Hanly, and we are proud to include their products in our range. We believe that it is important that our Irish products are firmly rooted in Irish tradition, and these brands are committed to maintaining the weaving and knitting skills that have been developed over the centuries.

The artisan weavers at Mucros Weavers create their beautiful woven pieces on Hattersley looms that are almost 200 years old, and each is individually finished by hand. The colours used in these designs are a reflection of the stunning tones seen in nature in the Killarney National Park, where Mucros Weavers are based in Muckross House, and the passing of the seasons can be seen in the many colour options for the hats and scarves they create. Mucros Weavers focus on quality, and only use the finest premium yarns, including wool, mohair and alpaca to develop their traditional and contemporary designs.

Branigan Weavers is based in the Boyne Valley, where weaving has been passed down through the generations for many centuries. Several generations of Branigans have learned the traditional skills to create hats, scarves and clothing as their ancestors did, and these are very popular in our catalogue today.  We especially love the soft County Hats and capes that feature soft wool blends and natural colours.

John Hanly builds on a proud tradition of Irish weaving, building a weaving business in 1893, with the conversion of a flour mill into a vertical woollen mill beside the Nenagh River in North Tipperary. Local wool was spun and carded here and woven into blankets and flannel fabric. After a fire in 1950, the factory ceased spinning and finishing, focusing on weaving the beautiful products we see in our selection today. John Hanly takes pride in creating heirloom pieces, such as the hats and blankets in our range, and these are made with natural materials from trustworthy suppliers who produce and source their wools and cashmere sustainably and ethically. Today, the mill is driven by a water turbine that generates electricity, ensuring that all of the energy used at John Hanly is from renewable sources. We are very proud to work with companies such as this, who are committed to reducing their impact on the planet, and the quality of their products speaks for itself.

 

The Finest Wool and Wool Blends

Here at Weavers of Ireland, we are committed to quality, and we will not compromise on this. Our gorgeous hats and caps are woven from the finest wools from all over the world, including Irish New Wool, Merino Wool and Lambswool. Some of our products are made from wool blends that include shorter fibres, such as Cashmere and Alpaca wool, and these are soft, luxurious fabrics that are the ultimate in luxury.

Alpaca wool is naturally soft and warm, providing better insulation than sheep wool, so it is ideal for outerwear such as caps, hats and scarves. It is sheared from Alpacas annually, and most Alpaca wool comes from Peru, although it can also be sourced from Bolivia, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. There are two breeds of Alpaca: the Huacaya Alpaca, which has elastic, naturally crimped wool, and the Suri Alpaca, which has fine, non-crimping wool and is better suited to weaving.

Cashmere is a wool that comes from the undercoat of cashmere goats, usually in Asia, and it is difficult and time-consuming to harvest, so it is in demand as a specialist wool. Cashmere wool must be collected by combing the goats by hand, and it is a costly process to obtain, clean, sort and spin this wool. When a wool garment includes cashmere wool, it will feel super soft and warm, and the percentage of cashmere in wool blends will usually be around 5%.

 

Wool as a Sustainable Material

Wool is a great alternative to the fast fashion movement that sees many thousands of products made from synthetic fibres being disposed of daily. This is nothing short of a disaster for the planet, given the enormous amount of resources involved in making these items and the waste created in the process, and the fashion industry bears a good deal of responsibility for the climate crisis.

The slow fashion movement, which aims to combat these issues, prizes sustainable materials and garments that will last for many years when they are cared for correctly. Wool is a natural, sustainable material that can be recycled and reused. It is also easy to care for, since it does not need washing often, and this makes it ideal for making clothing and outerwear. Our hats and caps will last a lifetime if they are looked after, and this means taking care to maintain their shape, especially when they are damp, and allowing them to dry out slowly and gently.

Wool is an excellent practical choice for clothing, and especially for outer garments, since it is naturally waterproof and warm. It contains lanolin, which is water repellent, and the fibres trap air in their layers, creating an insulating effect. This is great news for items such as hats and scarves, which can provide a truly warm and cosy addition to your outfit.

 

Irish Wool Tweed

Irish Wool Tweed is woven from 100% wool, creating a material that is warm, water-resistant and breathable. Like knitted wool, it can help to regulate the body temperature by wicking away sweat when the weather is warm and providing extra insulation when it’s cold outside. Tweed is an environmentally sustainable material, and it is durable and long-lasting, so you can rely on your Tweed cap or hat to last you a lifetime.

Traditionally, Irish tweed was handwoven on hand looms, and today this process is still common, although machine looms are also used. The many different methods of weaving tweed fabrics include the Herringbone design, Houndstooth and Plaid, and the colours in our selection are often inspired by the colours seen in nature in Ireland throughout the year.

Tweed is a popular choice for hats and caps since it holds its shape well and is warm and water resistant, and it is the fabric of choice for the Irish cap, including the flat cap, driving cap, Newsboy hat and panel cap. These are all derived from the quintessentially Irish flat cap, and they all share a similar shape with minor differences. Panel caps are, as the name suggests, made from several panels of fabric that are sewn together with a button fastening, while flat caps usually have a main panel that is attached to the sides and brim. All are popular choices for men and women, and they are often spotted on the heads of our favourite celebrities!

 

Styling Your Irish Cap

An Irish cap or hat can be worn all year round, and the temperature-regulating properties of the wool and wool tweed make them a great choice for summer evenings as well as the coldest winter days. Many people wear a cap or hat for outdoor activities, and these are synonymous with country pursuits such as shooting and walking. The many different colours available are reminiscent of the natural colours in the Irish landscape, and we especially love the blues and greens that evoke the beautiful tones seen on a walk along the coastline.

Newsboy caps are a very popular choice for women, especially, and the bright and varied colours in our range offer something to suit every taste and every season. We love these hats worn with jeans and shirts, and they are versatile enough to be worn on a casual family walk or to a more formal occasion, such as a wedding. Many grooms, groomsmen and wedding guests are opting to include flat caps in their wedding outfits these days, and this is likely to be inspired by the fabulous Peaky Blinders, an iconic TV show that features the flat cap and derivative styles as essential accessories for the gangsters of 1930s Birmingham and Ireland.

Thanks to its inclusion in popular cultural phenomena, such as Peaky Blinders and the Disney musical, Newsies, the flat cap is firmly back in vogue, and sales have soared worldwide. Some of our Irish caps are made from linen and cotton, and we also have some waxed cap options that are perfect for working outdoors, but the classic wool and wool tweed options remain on top.

 

The Finest Wools and Wool Tweeds in Ireland

Here at Weavers of Ireland, we aim to ensure that the traditional Irish skills of weaving and knitting are not lost, and we support local craftspeople and businesses who have invested themselves in these skills for generations. We source the very best knitted and woven clothing and headwear, made from the highest quality wool and wool tweed, including caps and hats, sweaters, cardigans, jackets and scarves. Our selection includes something for everyone, and we are always happy to help you find unique gifts for your friends and relatives.

We also stock a wonderful variety of homewares, including throws and blankets that make unique wedding and newborn gifts, as well as beautiful Celtic jewellery that is inspired by the land we love. You can visit one of our stores in Ireland, located in Killarney, Kenmare, Dublin, Galway, Glengarriff and Kinsale, or visit us online to discover our full catalogue at Weavers of Ireland.