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September 29, 2005
the london lounge cloth
[Edwin's coat, made with Michael's cloth- click on image to enlarge.]
I was visiting my old pal Edwin Deboise of Steed the other day, where he showed me this coat pictured above, that he's making for one of his American clients.
I recognised the cloth immediately. It was the very cloth designed by my friend, Michael Alden, exclusively for members of the London Lounge. Small world.
Michael has started something on the London Lounge he calls "The Cloth Club". He explains it thus:
The charter of the Clothclub is to take all actions required to preserve and perpetuate the art of weaving high quality, traditional fabrics. This art form is in danger. It may cease to exist as the hegemony of mass produced cloths for ready-to-wear garments continues to grow. Already the sector has suffered greatly. Weavers are forced to close down leaving precious looms and talented hands idle.Great work, Edwin and Michael.The arrival on the market of "high-tech" cloths has confused the consumer in a spiral of marketing excess and high prices, prices required to pay for the marketing. The modern, high tech, disposable suitings will never replace qualitatively the elegant and substantial suitings of the past.
If we are to continue to dress like Gentlemen we will require the services of the few master weavers still producing a variety of quality products. The practical work undertaken in theclothclub and thelondonlounge chapters can contribute to educate consumers directing them to the cloths that last not for seasons but for generations of seasons.”
Experienced bespoke dressers have a difficulty finding unique fabrics that were plentiful on the market 30 years ago. The wholesalers who provide cloth for the bespoke tailoring trade, are driven by the business suit, worsted, blue and grays market demand. There are very few books available from these wholesalers that include the patterned suitings of the past. The londonlounge “clothclub” was created to fill the void.
The clothclub was formed when yours truly wanted a large format Prince of Wales check in tan. It did not exist anywhere, anymore. So the idea was born to gather together a dozen londonlounge members to make a purchase direct from a weaver according to the member’s specifications. I did the design work and the weaver made the Limited Edition cloth you see in the picture. Today, twelve men own lengths of this cloth. Twelve fortunate men who made an investment in Elegance!
New creative projects are underway in theclothclub and new Limited Edition cloths will soon be made. People interested in participating in these projects, should contact thelondonlounge via the website, www.thelondonlounge.net
Posted by tom at September 29, 2005 11:58 AM
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