Tweed vs Wool vs Linen: Which Cap Material is Best for Each Season?
Plenty of iconic fashion trends have emerged right here in Ireland, with the Aran Sweater and the Tweed Flat Cap leading the way. The Irish cap has provided the perfect combination of practicality and style for centuries, and it has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity since September 2013, when cult TV series Peaky Blinders exploded onto our screens.
Traditionally, the Irish cap or flat cap was made from wool tweed, and the majority of our designs are still crafted using this exquisite material. However, there are other options such as wool and linen, and we’ll take a look at these here. We’ll find out how different materials work throughout the year, and consider the best choices for each season so that you can choose your new favourite cap.
Heritage Fabrics
We often get questions about how to choose the right style of cap, but the choice of fabric is equally important. Here in Ireland, the weather is unpredictable, and the seasonal changes are often dramatic, so your fabric choice can have a significant impact on your comfort as well as your style.
Heritage fabrics have become a popular alternative to the fast fashion movement in recent years, and quality garments made by artisan producers can offer longer-lasting, better value solutions. Here at Weavers of Ireland, we work with craftspeople who use traditional techniques to create unique and beautiful items, and we can help you to find the best choice for every occasion. Let’s take a look at the materials used to make classic Irish caps and hats, and find out what will work best at each time of the year.
Tweed Caps: Heritage Weaving Traditions in Ireland
Tweed fabrics are the most popular choice for Irish hats and caps, and Irish tweed is something very special indeed. Weaving is central to the history of Ireland; an industry that enables many people to make a living, and for thousands of years, like farming, it has sustained Irish families and communities. In ancient Brehon law, evidence has been found that weaving offered protection to vulnerable individuals, as it is specified that women who had been divorced by their husbands could keep their yarn and spindles, giving them the means to earn a living. This is powerful evidence of the importance of weaving in Irish history, and our Irish caps continue this legacy today.
Tweed is woven from high-quality wool and is a durable, breathable fabric that offers protection against the elements with natural water repellent properties. When made into tweed caps, jackets and other clothing, tweed holds its structure and creates a gorgeous silhouette, and the traditional methods create stunning patterns such as flecked tweed that echo the colours we see in the landscapes of Ireland. Donegal Tweed, for instance, has a beautiful fleck pattern running throughout and is an excellent choice for casual and formal occasions.
Our Tweed caps are very popular choices, with designs such as the flat cap and the Newsboy cap spotted on the heads of celebrities all over the world. These are iconic styles that are loved by men and women alike, and the versatility and style of Irish caps make them the perfect accessory for any outfit. The Tweed Herringbone Flat Cap in green is a great example of the classic tweed flat cap, made from 100% Tweed by skilled weavers here in Ireland. This traditional peak-style flat cap features a timeless Herringbone design, and the warm green is inspired by the lush landscapes we see in the Irish countryside.
Tweed can be worn all year round, and although it is a warm and comfortable choice for the winter, it can also be the perfect way to accessorise a summer wedding party or help you cope with changing weather conditions in the spring and autumn seasons. Although you might reach for your tweed cap more frequently during the winter, it’s a great choice for any weather conditions or events, and looks just as good in the height of summer as it does on a cold December day.
Wool Caps: A Warm and Cosy Choice
Our Tweed is made from the finest quality wool, woven in tweed fabric, but some of our hats are made from softer wool and wool blends that retain the original qualities of the wools we use. For instance, wool contains lanolin, so it is excellent at repelling water and can take on up to 30% of its weight in water without feeling wet. This makes it a great choice for outerwear, and our wool hats offer a stylish and practical option for the colder seasons.
We all reach for the woollen beanie or bobble hat as a top choice on the coldest days, and we have some beautiful new arrivals in these styles. The Fairisle Merino Wool Hat is a great choice for winter days, with its classic cable knit design and colourful Fairisle design on the brim. The soft 100% Merino wool is warm and cosy, and the variety of colours includes something for everyone, with whimsical colour blends such as Mallard, Cormorant and Winter Pear. This is a cute bobble hat with options for men and for women, and it’ll look and feel like a warm hug on a cold day.
Wool hats are not just for snowy days, however, and our soft wool hat designs, such as the County Hat and the Peaky Blinders Hat, are perfect for changeable weather all year round. These are striking designs that are particularly loved by women, and the colour selections are truly special. We love the Ladies Wool Peaky Blinders Hat in a range of gorgeous colour options, including the subtle Tara Grey, the Donegal Forest and the bright Donegal Sunshine. This full cap in classic Newsboy style is handwoven from an Alpaca wool blend, and a matching scarf will finish any outfit off to perfection.
Linen Caps: For Summer Style
Linen is another heritage fabric that has been created in Ireland for centuries, and the linen caps in our range are very popular styles when the weather is warmer. Linen cloth is woven from flax, and this has been used to make clothing for many thousands of years. Irish linen was known for its high quality and was a popular choice amongst the nobility in the Middle Ages. In the late 17th century, the Huguenots arrived in Ireland, bringing advanced weaving and finishing skills, and this firmly established the Irish as experts in the linen industry.
Linen is a good choice for the summer months, as it is heavier than cotton but natural and breathable, making it ideal for formal suits and caps. Linen softens with age, so it is comfortable and elegant, but still retains its shape better than synthetic fabric blends. If you’re attending a summer wedding, a linen suit with tailored trousers, jacket and waistcoat is the perfect choice, and simple linen shirts paired with denim jeans ooze sophistication and style for a more casual occasion.
Our stunning Irish Linen Flat Cap is a popular design to add the finishing touches to your outfit, and the colour choices include stunning green, blue, black, grey and natural. This is a traditional style flat cap, with a short peak and sewn fastening, and is made in Ireland from 100% Irish linen by Mucros Weavers, who are based in the beautiful Killarney National Park. Their mission is to preserve traditional weaving skills in Ireland, and we are proud to be a part of the process. Every cap is hand finished, and the complimentary coloured lining adds an extra element of luxury.
Heritage Fabrics on the Catwalk
Here at Weavers of Ireland, we may be biased, but we think Irish Heritage fabrics are the very best options for clothing that looks fantastic and lasts for years. We know that the fast fashion industry has caused a great deal of damage to the environment, and alternatives to mass-produced fashion include natural, durable options such as wool and linen. These may require a greater investment to begin with, but they will last for many years and will hold their shape and retain their texture and colour, so that you get far more for your money in the long run. Many of our knitted and woven garments become family heirlooms and can be passed down through the generations, and fashion designers love working with these high-quality, stylish materials.
Linen, tweed and wool have made quite an impact on the catwalk in recent years, with stunning silhouettes in tweed and boxy knitwear taking centre stage. Irish linen featured extensively in the 2019 spring/summer collection by Alexander McQueen at Paris Fashion Week, and the dresses and jackets seen here were made on heritage looms in Ireland. The Newsboy cap has been a popular choice with designers like Chanel, ensuring that celebrities all over the world have embraced the style, and the flat cap is seen to be the favourite choice of stars such as Idris Elba and Harry Styles.
Designers love fabrics that enable them to be innovative in their designs, and traditional fabrics allow them to be more experimental with their offerings. Fabrics that retain their structure enable cutting-edge styles, and the boundaries of shape and utility can be taken to the next level. The classic Irish style has proved to be popular worldwide, and an Aran sweater paired with a tweed cap has grown from humble, practical roots to become an international style statement.
Seasonal Style in Ireland
Your Irish cap is more than just a practical accessory; it’s a little piece of Irish heritage that celebrates the craftsmanship and timeless style for which Ireland is famous. From small beginnings in the rural communities of Ireland and the Aran Islands, Irish fashion icons such as the Aran sweater and the Irish cap have made waves across the world. Choosing the right cap for the elements means you can enjoy wearing your Irish caps all year round, adding character to your look in every season.
Tweed is the traditional choice, with the weight and structure we’ve come to know and love, and this is the typical Peaky Blinders style. It is ideal for autumn and winter wear, providing natural insulation and breathability, and it is also a great choice for styling up a tailored suit in the warmer months. Tweed caps are typically made in natural colours, with mossy greens, earthy browns and soft greys that remind us of the Irish landscape, and there are many different designs so that you can find your favourite for every outfit.
Wool is a good choice for cold weather, helping to regulate the temperature and retain warmth, and a wool cap is the perfect partner to a tailored coat or matching scarf. Linen is a breathable, lightweight alternative that adds a contemporary twist to the classic Irish cap design and allows for comfort in the cooler months. Linen caps are ideal for the spring and summer, particularly with a casual shirt and boots, or a more formal suit.
At Weavers of Ireland, we also have a good selection of waxed cotton caps, which are a practical choice today, just as they were for the fishermen who wore them first. In unpredictable climates, waxed cotton will keep you dry and protect against the wind, while still retaining the traditional flat cap style. Whatever you choose, your Irish cap will be the perfect complement to your wardrobe, combining practicality and style in every season.
Celebrate Irish Weaving at Weavers of Ireland
At Weavers of Ireland, our catalogue includes an extensive selection of woven garments, hats and blankets made in the traditional style. We have a beautiful collection of clothing and homewares made from the finest Irish wool, and we work with artisans across Ireland to bring the finest quality products to you and your family. Visit us in Ireland or explore our catalogue online today!
