Stowers bespoke Savile Row luxury tailoring
www.stowers.london
Stowers London
13 Savile Row, London
W1S 3NE
+44 (0) 20 7287 3080
[email protected]
As part of working with Stowers we are looking to give you an insight into the making of a piece of bespoke luxury Savile Row tailoring, and at the same time open the door to a relatively new tailor on Savile Row that blends the culture of excellence with the modernity of being able to make anything for your wardrobe.
You can read all about our first visit in the summer where we had our consultation and measurements.
Stowers, an iconic Savile Row Gentlemans Jacket
Do have a watch of this short film. Interestingly, though I watched this a long time ago, I revisited the other day. It not only encapsulates Ray’s vision but describes the tailoring process in a perfect manner. I can say all of this with 100% honesty as this is the experience I have had myself and continue to have. It’s totally interactive and ongoing.
What defines a good tailor?
One of the most important things with any business is understanding your clients. Having an open relationship where you can talk to each other is vital.
Imagine you are talking to a builder/designer about putting in a new bathroom … you will go we want blab la bla …… and a good builder/installer will then have a dialogue with you and then most likely the original spec will change …..This is because the clients often knows what they are trying to achieve but not necessarily know all the nooks and crannies of how to achieve ones goal….. In addition a good expert can add things you never knew about……
In a nutshell this is why we go to experts in life.
Earlier in October Savile Row was turfed over with grass and around 60 sheep as part of National Wool Week. As we needed to return for our First Fitting we thought it would be an ideal opportunity to take a snap or two.
A little more about Stowers….
Established Stowers in 2008, as a family business.
Actually their approach is like a family as they believe in providing much more than making suites. Ray has been in the business for 35 years and travels with his team all over the world from Chicago to Dubai to produce stunning garments for his clients. Ray believes it’s about managing peoples wardrobes and I can agree with this completely as it makes total sense.
Making handmade clothing for every aspect of life, all made by hand using traditional suppliers from the UK. They will make by hand a crocodile jacket, use fur, and make for ladies and gentlemen from a safari jacket to a pair of shorts or evening gown.
For Stowers its important they are made in Savile row as genuine Savile row tailors…
They will encourage the client to bring the clothing back to alter, repair as part of the wardrobe management process so it’s crucial that the fabrics stand the test of time.
Initially the client comes in for a consultation …what you need, what you are going to use clothes for ….the type of work ….
The cutter will measure you …..from this the cutter will make your personal pattern, from which they will cut the cloth which will then be trimmed….then given to one of the tailors….which is put together into a baste…….customer comes for first fitting….put the clothing on and talk about what we do and don’t like and they will make notes and marks….so the garment can be finished as a unique piece of clothing to fit your body, unique to your design and personal to the way you live your life.
Stowers also makes accessories from belts to bags all with the aim of creating individuality They even have a clasp maker that will make a silver clasp, unique to you…
Most clients do becomes friends because of them having this unique open door policy …..
Since then I have been back for a second fitting and soon look forward to taking delivery in preparation for some visits to Arabia and Asia in the next few months.
This was the original inspiration, to produce a high quality, lightweight jacket for the heat that still says the words, English, Gentility and Savile Row. I think we are well on the way. Did they say Daniel Craig is soon going to be replaced by a new James Bond… mmmm !!