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The origin of herringbone
A pattern that borrowed its name from the bones of a fish, found in everything from Roman roads to tweed jackets.
Older than the textile
Herringbone is a V-shaped weave in which the twill reverses direction at regular intervals. The same geometry was used by the Romans in road building long before it was woven in wool.
In cloth it gives both strength and a soft, living play of light.
Tweed's favourite
In the tweed tradition of the British Isles, herringbone became the standard for coats and jackets meant to survive weather and time. Its quiet movement also hides wear well, which makes older pieces especially beautiful.