I’m always fascinated by cultural linguistics and etymology. Learning where phrases come from is a great indicator of what was has previously been valued by society. We can learn so much about our interest in textiles from phrases that have survived over the years. From being put on ‘tenterhooks’ to becoming ‘dyed in the wool’; there are just so many fabric related expressions.  

For someone who loves a story, nothing beats ‘spinning a good yarn’ and in fact as well as enjoying writing I have actually taken up spinning as my new hobby. As I sit at home pedalling my spinning wheel, productively turning fleeces into yarn that I later crochet into warm hats, I feel sorry for people who’s only knowledge of spinning revolves around bikes designed to go nowhere fast, perhaps an apt metaphor for life at the moment.

Spinning a good yarn is central to Dashing Tweeds, life is too short to live without a meaningful story, why would you want something made by a faceless machine or an enslaved worker when a skilled passionate craftsman could make something with love for you to enjoy. At Dashing Tweeds we delight in working with skilled craftsman who create wonderful things for you out of our cloths.

We have been working with Lawrence and Foster in Castleford, Yorkshire for over ten years now. They are a small family run business that excel in flat cap making, taking great pride in matching up checks and sewing caps to the highest level. Yorkshire has been famous for making flat caps for hundreds of years. Interestingly in 1571 an act of Parliament was passed making it law to wear cloth caps in order to simulate wool consumption and general trade, perhaps an idea to pass on to any of your friends in politics.

Chester Jefferies can trace it’s glove making lineage back to the 1820’s and since 1963 they have been glove making in Gillingham, Dorset using traditional methods and the highest quality leathers. We have been lucky to have them make gloves for us for the last few years to the delight of our customers. The gloves are all hand cut and beautifully stitched, then lined with silk or cashmere. 

Watch our latest video in collaboration with Portman Marylebone where we talk about the craft behind our collections and products and the importance of shopping locally this Christmas.

We are excited to now be open in the run up to Christmas. We are open Monday to Friday 12pm – 4pm, whilst offering late night shopping on Thursdays in December up to 8pm. We are also open this Saturday 12th December from 11am – 5pm, for a special Marylebone Christmas shopping extravaganza with local carol singers walking around the area to share some Christmas joy.

Do pop in and see us soon.

All the best,
The Dashing Team,