A loden cape is an overcoat of Tyrolean origin, made of a thick, water-resistant woolen material with a short pile known as loden cloth, first produced by peasants in Austria. This fabric is derived from the coarse, oily wool of mountain sheep and has a traditional earthy green colour. The name is derived from Middle High German "lode" or from Old High German "lodo", meaning "coarse cloth". It is a cloth of traditional Tracht worn in Tyrol.
To produce loden cloth, strong yarns are woven loosely into cloth which then undergoes a lengthy process of shrinking, eventually acquiring the texture of felt and becoming quite dense. It is then brushed with a fuller's teasel and the nap is clipped, a process which is repeated a number of times until the resulting fabric provides good warmth for the weight, and is relatively supple, windproof, and extremely durable. It is a subclass of the wools known as "melton".
A similar type of woolen cloth manufacturing comes from the Belgian village of Duffel, giving name to the British Royal Navy Duffel coat, a coat that has most probably partly been produced from Melton wool.
References
- "Definition of 'loden'". Collins Dictionary. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
- John Vinocur (October 11, 1981). "World shopper; in the land of London, European preppy". The New York Times. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
- "Coarser or thick heavy fabrics". Vintage Fashion Guild. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
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