Remembering 'The Museum of London's Sherlock Holmes Tweed'

                                              

Sherlock Holmes inspired tweed to launch in October

8 August 2014 / http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/corporate/press-media/press-releases/sherlock-holmes-inspired-tweed-to-launch-in-october/

This October the Museum of London, in collaboration with Christys’ Hats and Lovat Mill, will launch a brand new tweed inspired by Sherlock Holmes to coincide with the opening of the museum’s next major exhibition about the famous, fictional detective.

The fabric design takes its inspiration from Sherlock Holmes, a character famous for wearing a tweed deerstalker and cape, and will be revealed in October. The colour palette was chosen following a close analysis of three sources: the use of colours in the original Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; late Victorian tweed and hat fashions established by cross-referencing the Museum of London’s fashion and textile collection with Christys' historic catalogues held in the Stockport Local Heritage Library; finally the latest menswear trend forecasting data, along with Lovat Mills’ modern dyeing and finishing techniques.

The tweed will go on sale, initially as a Christys’ deerstalker and other hats, in October 2014 to coincide with the opening of the major Sherlock Holmes exhibition at the Museum of London. The range will be available from Liberty, Christys’ and the Museum of London shop and online store. The project marks another milestone in the GLA and BFC supported project to position London as the home of menswear through London Collections: Men.

Sean O’Sullivan, Interim Director of Enterprise at the Museum of London, said:

“Partnerships such as this give us a fantastic opportunity to create products which inspire a passion for London’s history, a story that the Museum of London is uniquely placed to tell. This new tweed woven by Lovat Mill is a sophisticated, contemporary design rooted in our extensive knowledge of London’s menswear heritage. Without a doubt it will look stylish as a Christys’ hat and work well in future product ranges, within fashion and other categories.”

Steve Clarke, MD of Christys’ Hats, said:

“Christys Hats was established in London in 1773, not far from the current site of the Museum of London, and has been connected to the capital ever since. The Museum of London was very specific in its desire to develop a deerstalker hat and a tweed that Sherlock Holmes might have worn were he alive today - combining a classic profile with a contemporary edge - which is pretty close to our design ethos and has ensured great synergy in this collaboration.”

Sherlock Holmes opens at the Museum of London on Friday 17 October 2014 and runs until Sunday 12 April 2015.