Wool - Transformyourself.ca

image inc.
canada’s quarterly image news for men
winter 2008
regulars:
quote
read
style tip
transformation
featuring:
What does your wool say?
Wool care
Wool Match!
Historicity: The Aran Sweater
Wool weighs in on image
WOOL
Wool has been with us for millennia – along with
linen, it was one of humanity’s first textiles. Wool is
a natural animal fiber, warm, absorbent, lightweight,
and comfortable. It makes a dapper suit and a cozy
sweater; keeps our feet warm, makes a fine rug and
excellent sock monkeys.
What
does
your
wool
say?
The weave, colour, pattern, and
texture of the wool garments we
choose to wear carry messages
that influence and flavour the
impression we make on others.
What do these wool examples
say to you? Would you feel
comfortable wearing them?
photograph used with permission from
www.SockMonkey.net
How to care for your wool sweaters
Hand wash: sink your sweater into tepid, soapy
water - do not agitate or wring the sweater or the knit
will pull out of shape. Squeeze the suds through a few
times then rinse. The sweater will be heavy with water
- squeeze it out. Dry flat (below).
With caution, wash your sweaters in the washing
machine in COLD water on the GENTLE cycle, then
shape on a towel and leave to dry.
soft-coloured, fine
wool in rib weave
fine, soft tweed in
window pane check
patterned flat knit
striped rib knit
Dry Flat*: On the floor, roll sweater in a towel
and push out excess water. Unroll and reshape your
sweater on the towel and leave to dry - flip once.
Probably leave it overnight.
DON’T PUT YOUR SWEATER IN THE DRYER!
It will shrink to doll size!
Dry Clean: let someone else worry about it.
earth-coloured
houndstooth weave
colourful, bulky
hand-knit sweater
* If sweaters are hung, the weight of the water will stretch the sweater out of shape.
feature
feature
Wool Match!
Wool is made of the fleece of domestic
sheep and can be spun into yarn from
specialty hair fibres from llamas, alpacas,
goats, rabbits, and camels! Each animal fiber has its own look, feel, weight, and style.
Look below - guess the animal that produces the wool material:
historicity
eye on historical menswear
Famous Historical Sweaters:
Aran sweaters of the Aran Islands
The Aran Sweater
was born on the
isolated and rugged
islands off of Galway
Bay, Ireland, on the
cold and unforgiving
Atlantic Ocean.
1. Merino Sheep
2. Cashmere Goat
3. Angora Rabbit
A. Soft and fuzzy.
B. Crimped fibers, super
warm.
True Aran sweaters are hand knit and made of bainin
(baw-neen), the rough, cream-colored wool from the
hearty sheep of the region. Part of the natural oil (lanolin)
is left on the wool, giving it water-resistant and insulating
properties.
Many Aran Sweater stitches reflect Celtic art. The Aran
Islands claim the most ancient sites and religious ruins in
all of Ireland.
Aran Sweater stitches, passed down from mother to
daughter, indicate family clans and each carries its own
unique meaning: ”A particular design could identify a
given family, just as tartans
were used for the various
clans of Scotland.”
(Anthony Bluett,
Things Irish).
C. Light, warm wool.
The Honeycomb
Stitch of this Murphy
clan sweater symbolizes work, and the
Diamond Stitch reflects the small fields
of the islands.
4. Alpaca
D. Extremely soft.
Maintenance Tip: use a lint brush to keep wool
clothes neat and fuzz-free.
An Aran sweater contains
about 100,000 stitches!
Hand-knit clan Aran Sweater printed courtesy of
matches: 1 - C, 2 - D, 3 - A, 4 - B
clanarans.com.
As the preferred fabric of
the grunge movement of the
1990s, flannel is warm,
comfortable, practical, and
relaxed in true slacker fashion.
Wool flannel is loosely woven
and slightly napped (fuzzy) on
one side, giving the fabric a soft
drape. It is popular for winter
shirts and work wear.
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Flannel
Wool
weighs in
on image
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Often used for formal uniforms
and durable work wear. Wool
serge is an even-sided, twill
(diagonal) weave, with a
smooth, hard finish.
If fabric can be hard-wearing
and authoritative, wool
serge is it.
Reprinted with the permission of the RCMP.
Great Canadian Style
Fabrics can have an enormous
bearing on the image we
project. Often, specific
wool fabrics carry cultural
meaning, making some
fabrics recognized symbols
of commonly understood
attitudes and images.
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The most English of woolen
fabrics, rough-textured
tweed is woven from wool
in a variety of patterns,
giving a soft, “heathered”
effect. As a heavier wool
fabric, it is popular for
informal outerwear.
sportswear, and is used for
suits and coats.
Tweed is traditional,
gentlemanly, no-nonsense,
stiff upper lip and all that.
Tweed
Understanding these cultural
associations can be a
powerful awareness, helping
you portray the right image.
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transformation
of the season
The Ultimate Image Makeover:
The Transformation of a Nation
In a few short months, the most influential nation in the
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The future American government will project a completely new image on its citizens and will impact the
rest of the world.
after
before
read
of the season
James McBride Dabbs,
Ph.D., head of the
Social/Cognitive Psychology Program at Georgia
State University explains
testosterone biochemically and psychologically, giving examples
of the way the hormone
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Find out what groups
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and how it can shape
your face!
“Under the Bush
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Craig & Marc Kielburger,
Toronto Star
style tip
President-Elect Barack
Obama has the opportunity to reinvent the tarnished
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Keep your eyes peeled for the image inc.
LINEN edition arriving in time for spring 2009!
To find out how simple and
powerful an image transformation can be, call now to
book your complimentary
initial image meeting!
of the season
416 960 8234 Toronto
www.transformyourself.ca
Enjoy the sweater season and solve your “itchy
sweater” sensitivity instantly by wearing a long
sleeved crew neck t-shirt next to your skin.
A long sleeve t-shirt looks masculine, provides
extra comfort and no itch!
quote
of the season
“I love angora sweaters. Oh man, they’re
unbelievable. They really feel good.”
[email protected]
Leah Morrigan,
Canada’s men’s image
expert, oft-quoted in
the media, inspires
professionals, politicos,
and everyday Joes to
perceive themselves in
a new light: confident,
distinctive; comfortable
in their own skin.
-Johnny Depp
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image inc. is conceived, written, and produced by Leah Morrigan. All opinions are views of the author. All rights reserved. Copyright Leah Morrigan 2008.