Tweed blazers have a reputation problem. People think scratchy, stuffy, grandfather's closet.
Modern English tweed is none of that. It's refined wool, structured weight, and texture that photographs better than any flat fabric on a video call.
This guide covers what makes English tweed different, how to spot quality, and why we chose John & Taylor for our collection.
What Makes English Tweed Different
British tweed comes from three places: Scotland (Harris Tweed), Ireland (Donegal), and England (Yorkshire/Lancashire mills).
Harris Tweed is hand-woven in the Outer Hebrides. Protected by law—it can only be called Harris Tweed if woven by islanders in their homes. Rough texture, very traditional. Beautiful, but inconsistent by nature.
Donegal has colorful flecks woven in. Those random dots of color are called "neps." More casual, Irish countryside feel. Great for weekend wear.
English tweed sits in the middle. Mill-woven for consistency. Refined finish. Still has character without being costume-y.
We went with John & Taylor—an English mill with quality control you can't get from handwoven production. Every meter is consistent. No surprises when your blazer arrives.
Why 350 GSM Matters
GSM is grams per square meter. It's how you measure fabric weight.
- Dress shirt: 100-190 GSM
- Standard suit fabric: 250-300 GSM
- Our tweed: 350 GSM
- Overcoat: 400-500 GSM
350 GSM is heavy. That's the point.
Heavy tweed drapes better, holds structure longer, and lasts decades instead of seasons. It's warm without bulk. The weight is the quality.
Light "tweed-style" fabrics from fast fashion brands run 200-250 GSM. They look like tweed in photos. They feel like nothing in person. Pick one up and you'll know immediately—there's no substance.
When someone says their tweed blazer feels scratchy and cheap, they probably bought something that wasn't actually tweed. Real wool at proper weight feels substantial, not irritating.
How to Spot Quality (And Fakes)
Real quality:
- 100% wool (not blends)
- Tight weave (hold it to light—you shouldn't see through)
- Pattern matches at seams
- Buttons are horn or quality resin, not plastic
- Canvas construction, not fused
Red flags:
- "Tweed style" or "tweed look" in the description (means it's not actual tweed)
- Polyester blends marketed as tweed
- Under $150 price point
- No fabric composition listed anywhere
- Vague origin ("imported")
Quality tweed costs more because wool costs more and construction takes longer. There's no hack around this. Anyone selling "tweed" blazers for $80 is selling you polyester with a texture print.
The seam test is easy: look where the sleeve meets the shoulder. If the pattern lines up perfectly across that seam, someone paid attention. If it doesn't, nobody cared enough to match it—and they probably cut corners elsewhere too.
The Pattern Options
Tweed comes in six main pattern families:
- Windowpane — bold grid, thin lines on solid base. Statement piece.
- Houndstooth — classic broken check. Iconic British pattern.
- Glen Check — Prince of Wales pattern. Refined, formal-leaning.
- Donegal — solid base with colorful flecks. Most casual.
- Herringbone — V-shaped zigzag weave. Timeless, versatile.
- Plain — solid color, textured surface. Maximum flexibility.
We cover each pattern in detail in our patterns guide.
Short version: herringbone is the safest first choice. It works everywhere—office, weekend, events. Windowpane is for confident dressers who want to be noticed.
Our John & Taylor Collection
14 English tweeds. All 350 GSM pure wool. All include draft fitting—test garment first, then final fabric.
Windowpane: Burgundy, Chocolate, Navy
Houndstooth: Brown, Navy
Glen Check: Charcoal (subtle blue overcheck), Brown
Donegal: Olive, Green-Charcoal, Burgundy
Herringbone: Brown, Forest Green
Plain: Grey, Chocolate
$590 per blazer. Draft fitting included. 3-6 weeks delivery.
Care
- Brush after wearing (removes dust, keeps nap fresh)
- Hang on wide hanger, not wire
- Steam, don't iron directly on the fabric
- Dry clean 1-2x per season maximum
- Store with cedar in off-season
Tweed is durable. It was designed for Scottish highlands, not gentle handling. Don't overthink this.
The fabric actually improves with age. It softens slightly, molds to your shoulders, develops character. A ten-year-old quality tweed blazer looks better than a new cheap one.
The Bottom Line
English tweed is investment dressing. One quality blazer worn for a decade beats five cheap ones replaced every year.
Our J&T collection uses the same draft fitting process as our suits—test garment in plain fabric first, adjustments made, then your tweed is cut. No guessing on fit. No expensive mistakes.
$590. Draft fitting included. 14 patterns to choose from.
