National Flannel Day

National Flannel Day is celebrated on February 10th every year for people to dress up in their best woodworkers and enjoy a piece of clothing to keep them warm throughout a long winter.

History of National Flannel Day

With winter still going strong, a day dedicated to a warm garment is sure to be warmly welcomed. Flannel is made from a fine fiber, called a weave. Yarn is bound on one or both sides. Napping is a finishing process where yarn ends are brought to the surface, making the fabric softer and warmer.

The words "flannel" and "plaid" are often used in the same sense, but they are referring to different things. Flannel is a fabric without a pattern. In contrast, plaid is the pattern. It originated in tartans many centuries ago. Many plaid shirts today are made from lighter cotton and synthetics instead of flannel, although many plaids felt garments are still produced.

Flannel was first produced in Wales in the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries. It was created to replace wool, as it is warmer and sturdier. Since its inception, flannel has been the mainstay of work wear, and it has also been important to fashion throughout history. Throughout the years, its warmth, comfort and versatility have made it popular.

After beginning in Wales, flannel spread throughout Europe during the Industrial Revolution, aided by a process called carding. It is not known where its name came from, but the French started calling it flanelle, while the Germans called it flanell.

In the US, it may have been first used during the Civil War, in soldiers' bras and four-button jackets. In 1889, Hamilton Carhartt opened a factory in Detroit and began making flannel clothes for workers to wear. It was then that flannel began to be worn by factory workers, those who worked on railroads and in other types of construction, and by loggers. It is also used for long underwear.

The flannel continued to be worn as such into the twentieth century when it became a symbol of rough men and blue-collar workers. At this point, there is also a fascination with Paul Bunyan, a mythical lumberjack wearing a red plaid shirt. This made him even fonder of loggers and woodworkers. It was used during World War I to make bras, belts, and patches, and again during World War II, in the lining of the M1941 Battle Jacket. Between the wars, during the Great Depression, it was also common, which reflected the economic times more than anything else.

In the post-war years, the flannel evolved from its blue-collar origins to be used in more elaborate clothing such as suits. Many businesspersons wore felt suits. In fact, a popular book at the time was The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, which was made into a movie starring Gregory Peck.

Flannel returned as a fashion statement in a very different form in the early 1990s, as part of the grunge music scene. Members of bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam started wearing flannel shirts, as did music fans. Instead of gray flannel suits, cheaper flannel suits were worn in a much messier fashion.

Nowadays flannel is often associated with outdoor wear, with some popular brands being L.L. Bean and Pendleton. It also appears in fashionable apparel, worn by both men and women, and produced by brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Dior, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton and Maison Margiela. In recent years, it has also become part of hipster fashion.

How to celebrate National Flannel Day

Why do not you wear your favorite flannel to celebrate this important new holiday? The most obvious thing to wear is a flannel shirt, but you can also wear flannel pajamas or a flannel hat. You can also plan a trip to this year's Red Flannel Festival in Michigan.

Do not forget to use the hashtag #NationalFlannelDay and #FlannelDay to post in the social media to spread.