employ experienced 'cutters’ to advise
you on cloth, cut and style. The cutter
should produce your individual pattern
and keep it on the premises. Ask your
cutter, will you personally cut my pattern
or will my measurements be sent away
to a factory?
Know your cloth Ask where your tailor's
cloths originate. Savile Row tailors
should be using primarily UK milled
cloth, which is still considered the best
and supported only by a small amount of
speciality cloths from Italy.
Get clued up about construction
A bespoke suit takes a minimum of 50
hours and must be tailored by a Savile
Row trained tailor in a traditional
manner with a floating hand canvassed
chest and front construction, hand sewn
linings, edges and button holes. Buttons
Don't fall for
should be horn and not plastic. The cutter
should also conduct a series of fittings.
Savile Row fakes,
Be realistic about price For a genuine
Savile Row bespoke suit, expect to pay
says Ray Stowers
at least £2,500. Companies selling ‘Savile
Row bespoke’ at a fraction of this price
It’s a misconception that all Savile are not being totally honest with the
Row traders produce bespoke suits. manufacturing process and the quality
In recent years an influx of companies of the garment. Made-to-measure suits
offering non-Savile Row ‘bespoke’ have of varying qualities are the usual culprits.
been capitalising on the namesake of the
Row, offering ready-to-wear or made-
to-measure suits outsourced to the Far
genuine bespoke tailors
East. Ray Stowers of 13 Savile Row
kilgour Classic tailoring once worn by Cary
(stowersbespoke.co.uk) makes suits for
Grant and Fred Astaire, now sold from a slick
Ray Winstone and Russell Brand and is
contemporary store at No 8 Savile Row
known for his passion for genuine and
Henry poole Founded at No. 15 in 1806, the
non-conformist tailoring. Here are his
oldest tailor on Savile Row. Top quality with
tips on how to get the genuine article.
a deservedly excellent reputation
Choose your tailor carefully Genuine
Huntsman Often considered the ‘grand
tailors will have a house style. This won’t
dame’ of Savile Row. First-class quality and
suit everyone. Choose a tailor who suits
control in the manufacturing process
your personality and lifestyle. They must
sir tom baker Savile Row trained tailor
be willing to work with you – it's a luxury
based in D'Arblay Street and renowned for
business and you are the customer. his rock and roll, cutting edge styles.
Meet your 'cutter' Genuine Row tailors
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