Tuesday, January 15, 2013

DONEGAL TWEED

THE SCOTS AND HARRIS SEEM TO BE GETTING A LOT OF PLAY RIGHT NOW AND I HAVE TO ADMIT I CHERISH MY HARRIS TWEEDS. BUT I MUST CONFESS TO MY CURRENT INFIDELITY AND SLIGHT OBSESSION WITH VINTAGE DONEGAL FROM IRELAND. 
DONEGAL FOR CENTURIES HAS BEEN PRODUCING TWEED FROM LOCAL MATERIALS. THE SHEEP THRIVE IN THIS AREA OF IRELAND AND THE INDIGENOUS PLANTS PROVIDE THE DYES FOR THE WOOL (NOTE THE FLECKS OF COLOR IN THE WEAVE). THE LOOMS AND WEAVERS HAD BEEN SPREAD AROUND HOMESTEADS IN COUNTY DONEGAL LONG AGO TO PRODUCE THE TWEEDS AND THEIR NAMES CAN ALWAYS BE FOUND IN THE LABEL WITH THE LINE "JOY AND HEALTH TO YOU TO WEAR IT". NICE TOUCH. 


2 comments:

Rolf said...

Harris just has better marketing.

Anonymous said...

I have Harris Tweeds but in the last 10 years have purchased jackets made from Donegal tweed from Kevin and Howlin in Dublin.
I have 6 jackets of different cloths and adore them.
A rich variety of woolen weaves, great colours.
Thankyou Donegal tweed