St Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and many of you may be planning celebrations wherever you are based across the world. Originating as the saints day of Ireland’s patron saint, St Patrick’s Day has become a much-loved and enjoyed festival of all things Irish. From ceilidhs to Guinness, traditional folk music to Irish artisanal food and crafts, this is the annual holiday where the world toasts the Emerald Isle and comes together for a green themed party.
But on this special day, what should you wear? Leaving aside the comedy Guinness hats and the four-leafed clover costumes, if you really want to get in touch with your Irish roots, there’s no better item of clothing than beautifully crafted Irish tweed. At Weavers of Ireland, we bring together tradition and heritage with modern style to create clothing that will inspire and last a lifetime. Here’s our guide to celebrating St Patrick’s Day in style!
What is St Patrick’s Day?
Even if you’re not an expert on Irish culture, you will probably have heard about St Patrick’s Day. They do say that wherever you go in the world, you will always find an Irish pub. And there, on March 17th each year, they will be holding a mighty party.
This tradition began with the real historical figure St Patrick. He wasn’t actually Irish, but was born in Britain to wealthy parents around the end of the fourth century. He was captured by Irish raiders, who transported him to Ireland and held him in captivity for six years. It was this experience that prompted Patrick to find his faith.
Patrick believed he heard God’s voice, which helped him to escape. Once escaped, he became a missionary, spreading the Christian message in Ireland.
However, Patrick clearly valued the Celtic Irish culture he had encountered during his time there, and he incorporated it into his teaching.
Why March 17th?
March 17th is traditionally held to be the day that St Patrick died. Evolving from a religious festival, St Patrick’s Day is now a wide ranging celebration of Irish culture, heritage, and tradition.
What is the best way to celebrate St Patrick’s Day?
On St Patrick’s Day, participants will pay homage to their favourite aspects of Irish culture – perhaps drinking an Irish whisky, and listening to traditional Irish music. For some, a big party with an Irish theme will be their chosen celebration. For others, a quiet night in remembering their Irish connections will be more to their taste.
It may already have occurred to you that wearing a special piece of Irish-made clothing would be the perfect finishing touch to the occasion, but perhaps you are wondering where you can find a selection of truly Irish items that marry heritage with style?
Irish clothing: a world of Irish tradition
Weavers of Ireland brings together numerous artisan Irish producers to pay homage to the tradition and crafts of Irish weaving. Our selection of Irish clothing is stylish and practical, tying together ancient craft with modern sensibility.
Weaving in Ireland is a centuries old tradition that has formed much of the basis of the Irish economy and social structure. It is a craft woven into the very fabric of the Irish world. Weaving materials such as linen, cotton, silk and wool are textiles which enjoy a long and colourful history and whose respective journeys have evolved through the centuries to become a fundamental part of our everyday lives.
Weavers of Ireland aims to celebrate the colourful landscape of craft in our country, from household Irish weaving names like Avoca to Foxford Mills to firm Irish favourites like Branigan and Muckross Weavers. We represent only the finest of craftsmen, all under one umbrella.
What to wear on St Patrick’s Day
There’s no better choice for a festival of Irish culture, than to wear Irish clothing. Tweed is a patterned wool fabric that has come synonymous with Irish style. Warm and hard-wearing, its thickness and stiffness lends it a smart and stylish appearance. Different coloured threads comprise the tweed weave, meaning a wide range of patterns and colour combinations can be achieved, frequently featuring small squares and vertical lines. Tweed fabric works particularly well for outer clothing such as suiting and jackets.
Reasons to wear tweed on St Patrick’s Day
A truly Irish item of clothing
Buying Irish tweed from Weavers of Ireland means you are supporting artisan producers in continuing a rich heritage craft tradition.
Seasonal perfection
Falling in mid-March, the weather – at least in the northern hemisphere – lends itself perfectly to tweed clothing. While we are still emerging from winter, keep cold gusts at bay with a stylish Irish tweed jacket or coat.
A living heritage
The Irish weaving tradition is the embodiment of Irish culture. If you are celebrating your Irish roots, what better way to show you are in touch with the real Irish way of doing things, than to wear items handcrafted the Irish way?
Festival in style
Forget crass costumes and Irish cultural stereotypes. Who wants to wear a lurid green clover costume when they could be relaxing in a piece of clothing that looks fantastic and feels great? Tweed holds a perennial place in the fashion world and is never out of style. From Hollywood icons like Cary Grant, to modern day fashionistas like Sarah Jessica Parker, Irish tweed is a timeless classic with which you can’t go wrong.
A flexible choice
So you’ve decided to pay tribute to St Patrick’s Day by wearing Irish tweed. But the choices aren’t over yet! Weavers of Ireland stock an incredible range of the very best in Irish tweed products, from classic tweed hacking jackets to full length coats. The specifics of your celebration may dictate your choice – if you’ll be at a warmer indoor venue, a lighter garment such as a waistcoat might suit your needs more.
Something for everyone
Tweed is a choice for the whole family. From adult jackets, coats and jumpers for both men and women, to the cutest little waistcoats for the tiniest members of your family, at Weavers of Ireland you can find classic pieces that will become family heirlooms for generations to come.
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with the Weavers of Ireland tweed collection
If you’re looking forward to St Patrick’s Day but wondering what to wear, look no further than the Weavers of Ireland tweed collection. With a beautiful selection of quality Irish craftsmanship combining ancient tradition with modern style, there is no better way to celebrate Irish culture whilst looking stylish.
