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March 11, 2006
back from america...
[My niece, Laura, in a New York taxicab.]
Well, home again from America. My feet are still aching and my arms are an inch longer, thanks to my heavy suitcases. Never mind, it was well worth it, meeting good friends both old and new. As usual, both Laura and I were spoilt by everyone in the US.
Thank God business was brisk, with regulars coming in to re-order, and new people taking their first foray into bespoke. I'm very honoured that my customers keep returning, and my new clients are trusting me with their needs. Needless to say, I won't be going anywhere soon. I'll be spending most of the hours God's given me for the next while here at Warwick Hall, busily working away like the mice from the Tailor Of Gloucester.
[Martin Morse, holding up a dress he just made for his girlfriend.]
In New York, I had the pleasure of meeting up with some other colleagues in the trade, which is always fun. Also, I managed a couple of pints in Chicago with a young chap called Martin Morse, an apprentice from Oxxford Clothes. They're a super company, turning out beautiful clothes from their Chicago workshop.
Martin is in the same position as I was once- young and hungry, paid little money, kept away from clients, but still having a thoroughly wonderful time at his work. It's nice to see that people are the same from whichever part of the globe they hail.
And like myself at that age, as it'll be several years before he'll be allowed near a customer's suit, he's still making good use of his time and resources. The picture above shows a dress he just made for his girlfriend. A wonderful piece of work made for very little money- using the scraps of Cashmere and Super 150's left on the cutting room floor. Well done Martin, it's a true work of art. I hope your girlfriend appreciates your original idea and hard work.
He's definitely a young man who's going places. Nice to see. I hope to have a look around the Oxxford factory when I'm next over; it'll be great to meet Chicago's version of Savile Row.
[A very "stout" tweed.]
I managed to try on some super clothes on my customers whilst on my trip, thanks to skill of my tailors, and the diligence of my cloth merchants and their never ending search for the best fabrics. However, the show stopper for me was this tweed on the coat I made above, that was sourced by a good customer of mine. He described it as a "stout". Stout it most certainly is. Even with my light construction of make, it was extremely heavy. No need for a top coat here. "They certainly don't make like this any more," he said. Well, maybe not, except at English Cut [chuckle].
I know people are going to ask me who makes this tweed. If my customer says it's alright, I'll let you know.
I was enjoying wearing my new shirts from Nigel at Rayner & Sturges, My customers liked the look of them too, and I sold a few orders. It was nice to be able to help with that important part of a wardrobe, as well. It's a new part of the busines, and a new direction for me, but it's something that increasingly excites me.
Well, I must dash, but on behalf of Laura and myself, thank you once again all for the wonderful hospitality in the US. I plan tentatively to be back in the United States in late May, but I'm not making appointments till much nearer the date. I can't wait.
Also, many thanks to my friend Steven Hitchcock [a very talented, young Savile Row tailor], who kindly warned me about a rather odd individual, an American customer, who's been making life harder than it should be for us tailors. I know customers watch us tailors, and talk about both us and our work with each other. Luckily, we tailors do the same with our customers.
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Posted by tom at March 11, 2006 11:55 AM
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