How we make our Gowns

 

We make one gown at a time.

That is not a figure of speech. Each gown — whether from our standard patterns or made to a custom brief — is assigned to one tailor, who cuts the cloth and sews it from start to finish. There is no division of labour, no assembly line, no point at which it passes from one pair of hands to another.

One maker, one garment, from beginning to end. It is a slower way of working. It produces a different result.

The cloth

We source our cloth from the mills that supply the tailoring houses on Savile Row — British and European mills with long histories and no particular interest in compromise. Wool flannel is our house choice: a fabric with weight, drape, and a quality that improves with wear rather than deteriorating. We also work in cashmere, seersucker, and a small range of lighter blends for warmer climates and warmer seasons.

When cloth is sourced for a custom commission, we work through samples with the client. We can post swatches for any cloth on our current list.

The making

Paper patterns. Tailoring shears. Hand-finishing on the details that matter. The traditions of the craft are not observed for sentiment — they produce a better garment.

The lead time for a made-to-order gown is approximately 6 weeks.

Why made to order

We do not hold stock because we do not want to guess what you want. Making to order means we make exactly what is required and nothing else. It means the cloth is always fresh, the gown is always relevant, and we are never in the position of discounting things we should not have made.

It is also, frankly, more interesting work.

On care

A well-made wool gown will outlast most things in a wardrobe if it is treated with reasonable care. Dry cleaning is preferred. Wool flannel should be aired rather than washed after wearing.