savilerowmastertailor-blog

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Introducing our new Capsule Service Featured article in Life Magazines

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THE PEMBERLEY MAGAZINE INTERVIEW

THE PEMBERLEY MAGAZINE INTERVIEW

The Non-Traditionalist Traditionalist: Craig Featherstone

Master tailor Craig Featherstone has been tailoring for 25 years and is passionate about preserving the pure bespoke standard in his clothing line.  Consistently refining his technique, meticulous in his craft, and committed to keeping the traditions alive, his tailoring is a cut above the rest, making him a sought-after name in the…

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Interview with Ivy Stanev, Bespoke Aficionado

Interview with Ivy Stanev, Bespoke Aficionado

Ivy: How old were you when you developed an interest in sartorial culture and what was the major formative influence?

Craig: From a very young age I had an interest in clothing, age 8 or 9. I wanted to pick my own clothes and wouldn’t just wear anything my mother gave me. I started customising my own stuff, sewing patches and designs onto ready made pieces. I was a part of the hip hop and…

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This time last year, I took a huge leap of faith, deciding it was time for me to set up my own brand. One year on I can happily say, its the best move I ever made! The main thing I wanted to gain from this was to be able to dedicate my time to each client individually  and to have better work/life balance. Managing my own diary means I can enjoy the time I spend on each garment without having to rush. I can juggle appointments to still allow me to take my son to football every week, enjoy more events and try to fit in the odd round of golf too.

Business can be fun, I love where my trade takes me. I get to meet some of the most interesting people and get taken to some wonderful places. Even after 25 years I still get the same buzz from tailoring. Running your own company is much harder if you don’t enjoy what you do. My best advice to anyone starting up solo is to know your ‘why’ and stick to it. Learn your trade inside out, understand what makes you different and unique in your field and focus on cementing that as your mantra with every choice you make. I couldn’t have done this 10 years ago, timing is everything and if you try to run before you can walk, you will undoubtedly hit a wall.

Sure, some mistakes have been made over the last year on the business side but the tailoring I know inside out so I was always confident on that front. We have stripped the company right back to basics with a sole focus just on pure bespoke and a conscious effort on the all finer details, pristine hand sewing and structural elements of tailoring. No stitch goes unnoticed and nothing leaves the workshop unless it is exquisite. Hardly any of my pieces need to be altered, due to the extra time I can spend with clients, maintaining quality and accuracy to my patterns and fittings. We have also ensured we remain eco friendly and ethical by having zero waste in the workshop.

  Thank you to my very talented team. There are thousands of tailors out there but I am being super selective, my team must have the same standards and passion as I do about tailoring. I have selected only a handful of people I believe truly to be the best in the business. Together we are producing garments to rival the most esteemed labels. Featherstone London begins year two in a fantastic position and a growing reputation. We have even gone global with our first New York trunk show.

We are also very excited to be creating our own exclusive tweed, which we designed alongside Araminta Campbell. It’s been a while in production due to hand looming timescales but well worth the wait – full update on that coming soon.

Finally, thank you so much to all my wonderful customers in supporting us on this journey. Your feedback, advice and business means so much. We couldn’t have done it without you and look forward to the next exciting year together!

Craig

WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY, FEATHERSTONE LONDON IS ONE YEAR OLD TODAY! This time last year, I took a huge leap of faith, deciding it was time for me to set up my own brand.

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How to get the best from your bespoke suit and make it last longer

How to get the best from your bespoke suit and make it last longer

Apologies that I haven’t blogged of late. I have been much busier than anticipated with my new bespoke business Featherstone London so have had to replace my computer for a needle and thread. This post has been brewing for a few months now. I hope you find it interesting, I would love to hear your thoughts and if you liked this post please share it. Craig

Every year as a child, I would spend the…

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Araminta Campbell is someone we have been following closely over the last few months. Her ethics, standards, quality and craftsmanship are very much in line with ours. A weaver by trade who uses an artistic approach to her work, developing her own designs taking inspiration from nature using the Scottish landscape, she fuses the old with the new and is making this traditional craft super chic and highly desirable.

https://www.aramintacampbell.co.uk

Araminta offers a service called ‘Heritage’ which is commission based for the design and production of bespoke tweeds and tartans. The fabrics are woven and finished in Scotland using world famous skills and expertise built up over generations and use naturally sourced, ethical raw yarn from UK farms.

We caught up with Araminta in London to discuss specifics for creating our own bespoke Featherstone London tweed and got the opportunity to ask her a few burning questions we had regarding her work:

Weaving is an unusual trade, where did this passion start?

My weaving journey began with a passion for textiles which was fostered by a wonderful teacher I had at Secondary School, which lead onto me taking a degree in fine art embroidery. In the final year of this degree I stumbled across the weave room and was completely captivated!

I loved the extra dimension that weave requires, the way precise mathematical workings are combined with artistic vision. I have always had a natural way with numbers and I had never realised that this could actually have a place within my creative practice.

How long has it taken you to fully learn this trade and become proficient in the craft?

It took me around 3 years to get my weaving skill to the exacting standards I expect of my products, however the learning is never done! I am constantly building on that knowledge, creating new designs and experimenting with new ways of doing things.

Where do you look for inspiration to come up with new concepts and designs?

My greatest source of inspiration is the Scottish landscape. I am at my happiest when I am out for a walk in the hills, and this love of the natural world translates into everything I do.

When I am designing a tweed, this is reflected in the colours I choose, and the woven patterns and textures I combine to create an impression of the land it represents.

My handwoven alpaca pieces often spring from a specific natural detail or motif I have noticed, whether that is the bark on an old Scots pine or the delicate structure of a feather. I often describe them as my ‘woven paintings’ – as they are my way of capturing the world I see, and have the same consideration and unique quality as a work of art.

How long does it take you to hand weave one of your bespoke pieces?

Usually my Handwoven alpaca pieces take around 5 days to create. This includes several days of preparing the loom and hand weaving, as well as all the washing and finishing. People often forget about this last part, but the difference that it makes if huge! Once a piece is woven, it is handstitched, cut off the loom and then put through a 6 stage hand washing process before being brushed, steamed and brushed again.

Although machine woven, the bespoke tweed process also takes time. Once I get a brief and I have discussed with the client what they are looking to achieve, the concept for the new design usually bubbles away in my mind for two weeks. I need a while for the ideas and inspiration to come together, as often it is my creative subconscious that gives me my most original designs! However equally, I can sometimes be driving through the countryside and have to pull over as a tweed design has popped fully formed into my head!

Once I have an idea for a design, it takes up to a month to develop that alongside my client, incorporating their feedback until we have something they love. The weaving process can then take several months depending on the yarns, finish and weaving mill we have selected.

There are a few cloth weavers in Scotland, what makes you unique?

I guess you could say that it starts with me approaching weave design from an artistic perspective.

With my handwoven pieces, the complexity of the patterns I create isn’t seen very often as they would be considered impractical for large production runs. However this was never my intention as they are my woven artworks –each one is a unique one off piece.

They are also woven completely by hand on my two old looms. These are beautiful objects in themselves, and have such character and history. They haven’t been modernised in any way so take a lot of TLC and patience, but it really means that the skill and aptitude of the weaver is laid bare and each piece is that much more connected to the hands of its’ maker.

For the bespoke tweeds I create, my artistic approach is also something I believe sets me apart. I love the idea of a design being able to tell a story; to speak of the people and places that it represents. As such, I work closely with each client to create something that is really unique to them, rather than just having a few options that they can adapt or customise. I then collaborate with other highly skilled manufacturers around Scotland to produce the woven fabric – which is unusual as most designers are connected to a single mill or don’t provide final production. This allows me to offer clients a wider range of options to cater to their every need, as well as meaning I can support small rural mills.

We are seeing a huge shift from fast fashion, mass produced items back to UK, locally sourced and bespoke/luxury goods. Why do you think this is and how has that impacted your business?

I think we are seeing a backlash against the exploitation and waste that has been highlighted in the fast fashion industry in recent years. People are becoming more widely aware of ethical and environmental issues and this has impacted the way people think about the things they buy. Customers are demanding to know more about the way goods have been produced, and are increasingly looking for quality items that last.

Being a small luxury brand we have come into the market at the right time, as actually being small and able to trace every single stage of our raw materials and making process is really valued. We are also able to offer people the personal experience and story behind each item, which gives them a lasting connection and appreciation for each piece. They become conversation pieces and future heirlooms rather than just here one season and gone the next.

What’s your biggest achievement to date?

Meeting prince Charles at a showcase of the best of Scottish Textiles at Dumfries House. Really inspiring to speak to someone who has such an appreciation and knowledge about textiles.

Any exciting projects coming up planned that you can reveal to us?

I am currently designing for the Fife Arms Hotel, which is a luxury hotel currently being renovated in the Scottish Highlands. It has been my biggest project to date, and I can’t wait to see how it will look when it opens in 2018.

What’s the most creative/unusual request you have been asked to create?

I think that would probably be taking a tweed design back in time – without knowing what it looked like before!

A few years ago I was commissioned by the Glen Tanar Estate to redesign and manufacture their estate tweed. The Estate tweed they had – over time and many contemporary reproductions – seemed to have moved away from it’s original colours and design. I was asked to bring it back to its former glory.

I started with a visit to the Estate. Situated in Royal Deeside, it is an area I know and love, full of dark Scots pine forests, rocky crags, heathered hills and the mighty River Dee. Working with a few examples of what the tweed had become, I returned to the colours and textures of the landscape to breathe life back into the design.

We were all really pleased with the finished result – and just a few months later I heard from the Estate. They had just stumbled across a hand woven Glen Tanar tweed blanket from around the 1930s and it almost exactly matched the design I had just produced for them! History had been recreated.

What’s the dream/future for your brand?

Become a destination Scottish textile brand, where people come to experience our unique combination of design, quality and craftsmanship.

We often host international visitors at our hand weaving workshop in Edinburgh, and I love sharing what we do as well as adding to their appreciation for Scotland’s culture and textile heritage.

I also always want us to maintain that personal quality, the direct connection with the designer and makers that makes our pieces so unique.

  Over the coming months we are planning to bring you updates documenting the production of our own tweed which we will reveal via this blog! We hope you enjoy following its progress and would love to hear your thoughts!

Craig

Featherstone London Tweed coming soon! Araminta Campbell is someone we have been following closely over the last few months. Her ethics, standards, quality and craftsmanship are very much in line with ours.

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SHOP NOWTo celebrate our recent launch, for *1 week only we are offering 50% off ALL our men’s luxury accessories online. (*Offer runs Monday 20-27 November 2017 inclusive)

Enter discount code BF50 at checkout

Featherstone London Luxury branded Collar stays WAS £30 – Black Friday deal £15

Featherstone London Luxury Sodalite & Gold Cufflinks WAS £90 – Black Friday deal £45

Luxury Jersey checked tie limited edition WAS £90 – Black Friday deal £45 LAST FEW REMAINING

100% silk Luxury Bohemian hand rolled pocket square WAS £50 – Black Friday deal £25

All purchases will arrive gift boxed. UK standard flat rate delivery at just £3.95.

Beat the pre-Christmas rush, the perfect gifts for discerning Gents.

SHOP NOW

Featherstone London was established by Savile Row Master Tailor Craig Featherstone, all our products have been exclusively hand selected/designed in-house.

Black Friday Offers SHOP NOWTo celebrate our recent launch, for *1 week only we are offering 50% off…

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Estila Article

Last week we featured in Estila magazine – Here is the article in full available on their blog: https://estila.co/blog/introducing-featherstone-london/

Introducing Featherstone London

Highlighting independent brands and emerging designersis what we do at Estila. And so it’s nice to come across, and support, other passionate businesses who are trying to do a similar thing not in media but in…

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The Clothes we wear tell a story

The Clothes we wear tell a story

What’s yours??

The Fashion Revolution wheels are constantly turning. The question remains though, do you know where your clothes were made? And why should you care?

The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters today. Fair trade matters. Workers conditions matter especially as so many are children. Forced slave labour still exists and is flourishing.

Manufacturers produce cheap clothing in…

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Its been a busy month! Featherstone London is now live and online, visit our new look site for bespoke information and luxury accessory purchases: www.featherstonelondon.com

Huge thanks to Kirk Newmann and James Nader from Visual Prestige Agency for our promotional launch campaign. We LOVE the images and the video. It was so much fun shooting together for our brand. We hope you like the finished results.

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We used locations in and around London to showcase the brand. We would like to extend our thanks also to Surinder Arora and staff at the Intercontinental O2 hotel, who helped us capture the beautiful London Skyline images from the large glass windows inside this amazing hotel.

The end result is this brilliant video which was filmed over 2 days and included this beautiful Aston Martin DB5 kindly lent to us by Bell Classics. Please click on link to view:

https://vimeo.com/227965418

We have many more exciting images and products to bring you over the next few months, and some magazine articles on their way too, so please keep an eye out for them!

Would love to hear your thoughts on our campaign and products, get in touch!

Craig

  ‘The Bespoke Experience’ Its been a busy month! Featherstone London is now live and online, visit our new look site for bespoke information and luxury accessory purchases: 

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How to build a brand

How to build a brand

I don’t know all the answers but I’m definitely learning quick and fast in the process of launching my own label.  I dream big and have a goal for how successful I want Featherstone London to be – but as a start up company where do you begin?

Image is everything and it all centres around having a clear vision and knowing your ‘why’? That’s the foundational question I come back to always. Also…

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The Ultimate Shirt guide 

This month features a guest article from Jack Prenter, founder of Known Man. I have always said that every detail matters and a great fitting shirt is central to making an outfit look immaculate. Going bespoke with your shirt isn’t as pricey as you might think but it will have a huge impact on your overall look. No one wants to see your buttons popping when you take your jacket off. Some handy…

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Small details - BIG impact

Small details – BIG impact

So, you have spent thousands on a bespoke suit, bought a crisp white shirt and some nice leather brogues. Sure the big things are important – just don’t forget the little ones! Finishing touches really matter. Too often I see someone wearing a wonderful handmade, fitted suit, to find they have diluted its impact with poorly selected accessories.

For me, the subtler the detail, the classier the…

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A pocket full of History

A pocket full of History

On my quest to make my new range quintessentially British I have come across a contemporary fabric designer based in Nottingham. We met on Savile Row a while back and something instinctively told me to keep hold of her contact details.

Dorota Stumpf is quirky and individual. Even her name is so unique. She can visualise art in almost everything. I couldn’t have picked a more interesting person to…

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Coming soon....my own label!

Coming soon….my own label!

I am very excited to announce that this summer I will be launching my own bespoke tailoring business and accessory line under my brand Featherstone London. You can already follow my planning on Instagram and Facebook. (Both Featherstone London)

I have spent 22 years perfecting my craft and the time feels right to go solo. 2017 will be a big year for British business with the Brexit negotiations…

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Why your pocket square should NEVER match your tie 

Too much of any one thing is bad. Especially when it comes to patterns. You can match up colours but don’t overdose on one design. Ties, pocket squares and cufflinks should live up to their name – an ‘accessory’ to perfectly compliment your look, not dominate it. 

It’s so much classier to keep it minimal. I prefer a plain tie, if you want to make an outfit look more stylish concentrate on your…

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30 Ways to wear a Black Suit

30 Ways to wear a Black Suit

We live in a world where everything is disposable, including clothing. Cheap manufacturing, often made in an unethical way means we aren’t making informed choices when it comes to our fashion. An interesting read on ‘articles of style’ explains in great depth how this affects us as consumers: https://articlesofstyle.com/62475/the-true-cost-of-disposable-clothing/

Eco-age is trying to raise…