I like Lesser's too but it is a bit old fashioned in a City of London 60s and 70s sort of way. However, to some, that is a definite epicurean delight. Smith's is similar, if a bit more up to date. Their "Botany" Book is very nice.
Holland and Sherry. Interesting. I think of them as a 60s Englishman transported to this time who is able to adapt. Traditional but quite "Hip."
Scabal produces a lot of really good Men's suiting. I want to do a review of their things, if only to help people navigate their 1000 books of cloth. The Monza book, the Flannels, Fanfare 120s book, and Business Class 100s are superb. I also like that Wellington book theyre making now. Im interested in making something up from that.
At, the moment, Im heading more in the direction of Harrison's of Edinburgh. Their Standard suitings are very well done. The books I like are their 100s and 120s business suiting and their "Mystique" and "Havanah" books (Especially the Havanah, 7 oz 120s and cashmere.)
Best,
FNB
Hi Hermes,
Noticed you've gone underground for a few days and thought you might never re-emerge.
Really good to have you back.
It is very good cloth. Some say it is the best quality around.
Here's another fine mill:
http://www.carlobarbera.com/english/01.html
Last edited by Incroyable (2006-04-26 23:47:28)
http://foxflannel.com/
A small mill. I think they make an excellent quality of cloth. Their forte is of course different types of flannel. They are airier and breathe better than other flannel maker's flannels making them more appropriate for warmer weather.
They also make their flannels in astonishingly light weights (7.5-8 oz per metre!) which have the handle of a much heavier and loftier cloth but are lighter on the shoulders.
If you like the look of flannel but not the weight, Fox Flannels are for you. Although they primarily make for clothing manufacturers and cloth merchants, they will sell to you from their very limited (Im talking navy, black, two shades of solid grey and maybe a navy and charcoal chalk stripe) stock of suit cloth for the general public in 5 or 6 different weights. Most of it is 120s quality. They expect to be paid by wire. Prices by the metre are more than reasonable for the high quality tht they offer. Fox Flannels also makes some very light but strong summer weight worsteds and a pure wool 120s in a 9.5-10 oz that is sound and very English.
Incidentally, the company uses some very old rollers and other techniques which build some "old money" character into the cloth, this isnt the ready to wear, cookie cutter stuff, its cloth to be a Lord in.
What do people think of Draper's? - another jobber I've always held in high esteem, but wanted to see what others think.
Any thoughts on Scabal. I have been looking to have a suit made and have examined sourcing my material from one of the smaller English mills and their price is about the same as what my tailor wants for Scabal.
So is the Draper's available in the US typically not Carlo Barbera (as Lesser has the US distribution rights)?
Scabal is pretty good but more famous for their high-tech "Super" fabrics than anything else
Last edited by Cruz Diez (2006-05-02 16:31:13)
I think Smith Woolens is a rather unappreciated company - hardly any mention of them on the various fora
Has anyone had a chance to see and feel the Dormeuil Voyage cloth. I live in the south and have heard good things about it. I am wondering if it is comparable to Zegna's High Performance or Traveler cloth.
Film, does Corvato carry Dormeuil?
Thanks,
Thanks Film,
I had a Zegna MTM in High Performance made back in 2000, and I absolutely loved it, especially down here in Houston. I do not know who the distributor is though. I only have two bespoke suits and I am really not very knowledgable about the industry.
Hey, by the way, great site, congrats! Very nice.
gladson is the zegna dist in the US
I agree that Fox flannel is excellent.
Vaclav,
Hermes on SF is a different Hermes. I was amused by his avatar - I think it's a police shot of a Cypriot chanteuse by the name of Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou who was arrested for "toilet trading" in LA.