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May 22, 2009
hold your horses....
( all the great merchants)
This little pile above is a only some of the work that I've got to cut and get made. In these inclement times we've been blessed to have a very full order book.
As you know I try to spend most of my time here at the Hall in my beautiful native Cumbria. Apart from my regular trips to the USA I always seem to be getting on a plane or a train. No bad thing I know you'll say, especially if your stuck in an office all day.
I don't know why it is but somehow those cases I carry seem to be getting heavier. When I do my big trips around the USA it's like a mini rock band on tour. Ok, I don't get the groupies but it's a different flight to a different city every couple of days and a very busy schedule. I like to think we create a form of art just like some musicians. Musicians as you know eventually stop touring. This way they can stay in the studio and hopefully do better things. This is ultimately at the point where I'm at now.
As I said earlier I've been tailoring for over 25 years now and am enjoying every minute. That being said I'm rather hoping to develop English Cut to possibly include some other wonderful English products which would compliment us and also be of interest to you, our friends.
They do say "you cant please all of the people all of the time" but in the last quarter of a century I'm pretty confident most of my clients have been pleased that our paths crossed. I hope I can reflect in a similar way in another 25yrs.
Anyway with these ideas in mind it will cause some changes as I'm desperate to recapture that very rare commodity called "time". I'm sorry but I doubt I'll be able to take on new customers :( as my existing clients keeping me busy enough. This will also be the same on my USA visit this Autumn. My plan is to complete the commissions we have on order return to the US to ensure all work is completed satisfactory and that everyone is delighted with their orders. I will have my usual visit this Autumn and then also return in the spring of 2010 to make sure all is as it should be. I then hope to hang up my US shears and leave the travailing tailoring business to the other artisans. The US is a wonderful place and I wont be able to stay away but it's definitely only short visits to catch up with friends and holidays after that.
Please don't panic as there will be no immediate change and we'll still be here as we love what we do too much. Next year however, I hope only to be cutting for about a third of what we do now. It's incredible how things can grow and tailors do have a habit of forgetting there are only 24 hours in a day. It'll be nice to slow things down a little.
(we're getting the hang of it)
I don't usually post pictures of my work but David and I had a great time when he visited us at the Hall. He ordered his first bespoke and David loved meeting Paul and the gang. His suit turned out to be very special. Special they all are, however I drafted his pattern with him there and then let him cut it himself! He had a steady hand and if he were 20 years younger I think he'd be as good as they come. Sadly I broke my phone recently and lost the pictures of him cutting. David is very pleased and kindly sent me this picture even though he's only had one fitting but it's looking pretty good I think. Don't worry I've already scalded him for fastening the top button.
What do you think of this marketing plan? English Cut suits "cut your own". May solve the time issue:)
Anyway I've got to run as I've a lot to do. Something tells me this is going to be a very quick year.
Posted by tom at May 22, 2009 12:44 PM
Comments
Hi Tom,
I've been an avid reader of your blog for a few months now and it always makes for a fascinating, enlightening and enjoyable read.
It's great to hear that business is booming, over demand is probably the one problem small businesses are happy to have.
Keep up the good work, both in cloth and in words.
Neil
Posted by: Neil at May 22, 2009 5:20 PM
I've just discovered your blog. It's wonderful. I've recently set up my own business making handmade dresses for babies and little girls, having been taught to sew by my Mum who was a dress designer in the sixties. I'm looking forward to going back through your posts to glean some tips. Thank you.
Lissa
PS I LOVE the idea of cut your own. It would really make a suit seem very special. Though I'm far too much of a control freak to let anyone into my sewing room. I didn't even let my Mum use my new overlocker.
Posted by: Lissa Cook at May 26, 2009 7:52 PM
Top button, not that big a deal. Bottom is the bigger no-no! Looks like a great suit though.
Posted by: Jovan at May 27, 2009 1:34 AM
agree with jovan, no bottom button, well, i say no top as well, middle will do, your coat aint going to fly off anywhere...
i read that it's this thing in men that they feel if something is there, they have to use it, like belt loops on jeans, jeans look way better hanging than belted. i could come up with a gazillion other examples...
Posted by: rnssnc at May 27, 2009 10:07 PM
I think the top can be done and look good, depending on the coat. The best kind I've seen have a slight roll at the button so it looks good with middle only, kind of like James Stewart's coat in "Rope."
Posted by: Jovan at May 31, 2009 10:52 PM