There’s nothing quite like the sight of a bold argyle sock or a whimsical paisley tie in contrast to an otherwise muted ensemble. The stylishly discerning know how to express themselves through subtle sartorial touches. You may not know that some of our favorite patterns are Scottish in origin. Further, they’re not just Scottish patterns […]
There’s nothing quite like the sight of
a bold argyle sock or a whimsical paisley tie in contrast to an otherwise muted
ensemble. The stylishly discerning know how to express themselves through
subtle sartorial touches.
You
may not know that some of our favorite patterns are Scottish in origin.
Further, they’re not just Scottish patterns — they’re Scottish places.
Let’s take a look at paisley, argyle, and Argyll and Sutherland, all
sophisticated yet playful in their placement of color and pattern.
An Intimate Relationship: Scotland and
Brooks Brothers
Drawing of Scottish shepherd, by Paul Brown. 1941
First,
a little background. Our connection to Scottish heritage has manifested itself
in many of our creations over our long history. Our exclusive Signature Tartan, for
example, combines elements of the traditional Scottish Campbell tartan with our
BB#1 stripe pattern, resulting in a unique tartan registered with the Scottish
Tartans Authority. In its array of color variations, it has appeared on
everything from shirts to shoes to umbrellas and
more. (Shout-out to Lavinia Brooks, who brought her Scottish heritage into the
brand’s aesthetic in her marriage to Brooks Brothers founder Henry Sands
Brooks.)
Ask a Native Scot
We had the
pleasure of discussing these expressive patterns with several native Scots. Who
better to offer a distinctive viewpoint on these well-known Scottish exports?
First, we sat down with a
native Weegie, which is to say, a Glaswegian —
someone from Glasgow, Scotland. “I think paisley is much more common than
argyle throughout the world, not just in Scotland,” he says. “It’s trendy on
items such as shirts, ties and scarves — things that have everyday-wear
possibilities. Argyle, on the other hand, is more common on traditional outfits
rather than everyday wear.” His favorite? “I think paisley wins hands down!”
Next up, a
gentleman who lives in Edinburgh. In contrast to the Weegie, this fellow
reports that he wears argyle frequently, saying that a fine pair of socks is
his preferred means of style expression. (Scotland, he says, has a love of
great socks.)
Paisley
Paisley is a
small city to the west of Glasgow with an impressive textiles history — and, of
course, a teardrop motif popular throughout the world. This shape proved so
popular that the name of Paisley became synonymous with the design style.
“The actual
Paisley pattern is derived from ancient Persia and latterly India,” explains
Stewart Roxburgh, Specialist, Scottish Enterprise. “The motif is believed by
scholars to be a stylized cypress tree with the top bent by the wind. A large
collection of these cypress motifs in the form of woodblocks was sent to
Paisley to influence the Scottish weavers and can still be viewed at their
local museum.”
Roxburgh
charmingly refers to paisley as a “revered symbol of decadence and non-conformance
to society rules. Its use today in ties, scarves, robes and more underpins this
desire for uniqueness, difference and a snubbing of conformity, but perhaps in
a more subtle and personal way.”
Today, we
offer paisley in a wide range of items, including silk ties, pocket
squares, crew socks, polo shirts and Luxury
Collection Sport Shirts, to name just a few.
Argyle or Argyll?
Argyle is an archaic spelling of Argyll, a county in
western Scotland. Loved by golfers the world over, argyle is a
diamond-and-raker pattern commonly appearing on socks and sweaters.
None
other than the creator of the Brooks Brothers Signature Tartan would like to
have a word here. Brian Wilton, former director of the Scottish Tartans
Authority and founder of Tartan Ambassador Designs, lets us know: “The design
is said to have been commercialized in the 1920s and based on a simplified
version of the Campbell regimental tartan, whose west coast territory happened
to be Argyle. The Argyle look was adopted and popularized by the Duke of
Windsor (Edward the 8th) in the 1920s to accompany his treasured golfing
jerseys from Fair Isle as long socks to accompany the popular baggy plus-four
and plus-two trousers of the day. The Prince’s social popularity created a
trend.”
If
socks are your preferred way to display your love of this eternal pattern,
you’re not alone. We recommend our best-selling Italian-made cotton-blend argyle socks and cashmere
argyle socks.
Argyll and Sutherland
As part of our tradition of adapting British regimental ties, Brooks Brothers appropriated the classic Argyll and Sutherland stripe pattern for civilian use. The signature pattern was derived from the legendary Argyll and Sutherland Highlander regiment of the British Army. At first produced only in its original green, we offer Argyll and Sutherland silk neckties and bow ties in several color combinations for true versatility.
Brooks Brothers Vietnam:
- Ho Chi Minh: L1 – 19 & 20, Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi Street, District1 – ☎ (028) 3939 0477
- Hanoi: 31 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hoan Kiem District – ☎ (024) 3266 8206
