Skip to main content

Lovat Mill Makes Estate Tweed that Every Man Needs


Editor’s Note: Last November we had the pleasure of spending 10 captivating days in Scotland. Below is but one adventure of many from our stay. We hope the joy we experienced comes through in all our posts and missives from our adventure, which no doubt read better with a wee dram in hand.

Ever wondered what the difference is between plaid and tartan?

We know this keeps you up at night. Luckily, we went all the way to Scotland to find out.

To put it plainly, plaid is simply a bunch of colors designed into a pattern. A Tartan is specific colors woven into a plaid that is related to a family. And, breath…But wait, what is Estate Tweed? We hear this term dropped across the menswear world from old stodgy London tailors to the cool kids in the Lower East Side.

Lovat employs a team of dedicated craftsmen and women who carry on a long tradition of world-renowned fine cloth making.

When we stopped by the charming Lovat Mills in the border town of Hawick, we kept hearing them speak about Estate Tweeds. After a bit of head scratching and polite tea sipping, I finally piped up, “What exactly is Estate Tweed?” The answer, a tweed especially made for your estate. Yet another thrilling thing for wealthy people to commission besides custom yachts, tailored suits, and John Lobb brogues. Hence Estate tweeds are land-based while a Tartan is family-based.

Why would you design a tweed for your estate? Because it is basically the camouflage you wear when hunting on your property. In an ideal world, the gents from Lovat will come to your country house and take photos of the house, the grounds, what is blooming that time of year, etc. and then come up with a tweed that blends all of those colors. While there are no rules of who wears what these days, there is many a country gent (and royal) who still orders his own tweeds for his family and staff. Your deer stalker and Gillie need to wear the proper garb, right?

Lovat-Mills-3
Alan Cumming and Stephen Rendle Image used with permission by copyright holder

But let’s talk about Lovat.

Two textile designers, Alan Cumming and Stephen Rendle bought the mill situated on the Teviot river in 1999 and today it is one of the most modern mills in the country. The mill began back in 1882 and when they bought it the orders were small; it was that history that was the saving grace.

One of our favorite parts of the visit was diving into their incredible design archive that dates back to the 1890’s. Thumbing through book after book of hand-woven patterns of vintage tweeds was pretty exciting for this fan of the fabric and for others, too. As soon as they showed these books to clients, they realized these samples looked more modern than what was on the racks at the local menswear store. In short, Lovat can be credited with getting the modern man back in this once frumpy fabric.

Lovat-Mills-6
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Lovat employs a team of dedicated craftsmen and women who carry on a long tradition of world-renowned fine cloth making (Hawick has been known for centuries for their weaving). Their tweeds range from lighter jacketing weights up to the more robust “Sporting Tweeds”, suitable for country pursuits and home furnishings. Imagine your man cave swathed in a handsome brown and green tweed? Speaking of, Lovat Mill also produces a variety of woven accessories ranging from the more traditional lambswool picnic blankets to luxury cashmere scarves and throws.

Lovat-Mills-ScotlandViking’s Tweed Design, Spring 1901

While the tweeds are exceptional, Alan and Stephen are very hard working, amusing gents (with very enviable check jackets) who have buoyed the business to an international level. They export globally to Japan, America, and Northern Europe. And because they are of a certain level of sophistication, trade shows are not in the cards, only face-to-face, personal meetings; also lots of driving. Who wants bundles of bolts of tweed to get lost on a flight? Clients include everyone from Chanel and Ralph Lauren to friends of ours such as Sid Mashburn and Lord Willy’s in New York City. You may have seen their tweeds on the cast of Boardwalk Empire and The Jersey Boys, too.

Even if you don’t have a country seat, you can still wear estate tweed. Some of our favorite Lovat lovers include Brooks Brothers, Dries Van Noten and J. Mueser. But if you do want to go whole hog, email the company and just maybe they can make a tweed just for you. We hope to have a Manual tweed sooner than later.

Photos Courtesy of Glyn Satterley

Cator Sparks
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…
Adidas is having a huge sale on Superstar trainers — up to 60% off
Adidas Men's Superstar 82 shoes in white

Adidas is one of those brands with so many accolades and such appeal that when a sale kicks off -- like the one we're about to talk about -- there's nothing else to do but to stop and browse through everything discounted. It's regularly featured in the best sneaker deals. That's the same energy imbued for the huge sale on the Adidas Superstar Trainers that's happening right now. If you're looking for a well-rounded shoe that's perfect with just about any outfit and excellent to wear for any occasion, even active use, this is the series to consider. Now, there are a host of deals currently available, so it would be impossible for us to list all of the shoes included, and that's why we highly recommend browsing the sale for yourself. That said, we will call out a few of our favorites. Discounts are upwards of $40, and even go as high as $100 in some cases -- the

is just $231, which is $99 off, for example. Go take a look, or keep reading for some of our top picks.

Read more
Veja introduces all new V-90, a throwback Veja sneaker with a familiar aesthetic
Veja brings modern sustainability to '90s-era aesthetics, and we love it
V-90 sneakers on marble floor

In the ever-evolving landscape of men's luxury footwear, Veja has introduced their latest creation: the V-90 sneaker. This elegant amalgamation of throwback aesthetics and modern comfort is a unisex sneaker that caters to those who seek a harmonious blend of fashion, sustainability, and innovation.

Inspired by the design ethos of the '90s, the V-90 pays homage to an era marked by bold styles and expressive individuality. This throwback aesthetic, carefully interwoven with modern flair, makes the V-90 a versatile choice that seamlessly transitions from casual outings to more upscale settings.
Sourcing excellence and organic traced leather
At the heart of the V-90's allure is its commitment to ethical sourcing and the use of premium materials. Veja's approach to leather sourcing is exemplified by the inclusion of O.T. leather (Organic Traced leather) in the V-90 sneaker. Sourced exclusively from 100% certified organic farms in Uruguay, not only is it free from the harmful effects of pesticides and chemicals, but it also emerges as a testament to Veja's dedication to a greener and cleaner fashion industry.  O.T. leather goes through a mechanical beating process that makes it bendable. (The leather in the V-90 sneaker was also tanned in Brazil, and uses fewer dyes than conventional leather.)

Read more
Chelsea boots are the official men’s footwear this fall – how to style your look
Why men's Chelsea boots are having a moment in the fall
brown dress chelseas pushing pedal

In the long list of must-haves men need for their closet, one of the most important to pick up is Chelsea boots. From wearing them with suits to wearing them with jeans and flannels, these will be some of the most valuable shoes in your closet, especially in the fall. Men's Chelsea boots are versatile and necessary, and these are the ones that will work with everything you already have in your collection, simply taking the place of some of your favorite shoes and extending the life of each.

A brief history of Chelsea boots
Chelsea boots get their name from the fashionable Chelsea district of London. Chelsea was the epicenter of fashion and music during the 1960s. It was here that fashion designers resurrected a style of ankle boot first worn by Queen Victoria in the 1840s. Shoemaker Joseph Sparks Hall adapted a traditional English riding boot for everyday use by the Queen. To make them more comfortable, he lowered the shaft to ankle height, and to make them easier to get on and off, he added elastic gussets on each side. The style became popular during the late 1800s but disappeared during WWI.

Read more