Having resided in the heart of Yorkshire’s worsted industry since 1896, Dugdale Bros & Co is well-versed in the art of clothmaking and tailoring – with our extensive range of high-quality cloths favoured by tailors, couturiers, luxury fashion houses, retailers and garment makers across the globe.

In our last cloth spotlight, our Luxury Lambswool collection took centre stage – with its insulating and indulgent-feel properties. But with the warmer weather on the horizon, it seemed only right to feature a cloth that was originally developed back in the 1960s for the more humid Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysian markets – Tropicalair.

Characteristics of Tropicalair

Originally a heritage range, we relaunched the collection in its two original variations – High Twist and Mockleno.

Superior spinning techniques mean this cloth is well revered for its versatility and unique composition. In addition, it’s a lightweight and high-performance fabric which lends itself well to summer blazers, suiting and jacketing options, especially for temperatures of the more tropical variety.

The uniqueness of this particular range, however, is undoubtedly rooted in the spinning. The Mockleno variation is woven on traditional looms using extra-fine, 2-ply Merino wool, and it’s this which creates the cloth’s characteristic open mesh finish. As a result, the intertwining warp and weft yarns work harmoniously to create a natural, elegant drape for the wearer, as well as superior breathability and comfort.

Meanwhile, as well as affording the same elegance and high-performance as its Mockleno counterpart, the new generation High Twist offers practical crease resistance and a cool open weave. Moreover, it’s a sartorial favourite among tailors looking for cloth which is both workable in the cutting room yet robust and reliable to wear.

These are two key facets which mean this cloth is perfect for summer suiting which is free from unwanted furrows – ensuring no compromise on style or sophistication – even when worn in high heat and humid conditions.

Available in a range of colourways and patterns – such as houndstooth, glen check and stripes – Tropicalair can be used to craft a vibrant statement piece or a more muted and contemporary garment. Consequently, this enables the wearer to channel their personality and stay cool at all times and temperatures.

In fact, our friends at Savile Row tailors Cad and the Dandy recently crafted a suit using this very cloth for our chairman Robert Charnock – perfect for the warmer weather that’s on the way.