Mr Mag - Celebrating women's history month with Gladson New York and Huddersfield Fine Worsteds

Gladson New York and its sister company Huddersfield Fine Worsteds, the Falconer Agency, and MR Magazine are celebrating Women’s History Month by shining a spotlight on a number of talented women designers, tailors, custom clothiers, and stylists who are making waves in custom clothing both here in the United States and on Savile Row in the United Kingdom.

Over the past twenty years, the industry has seen an exponential growth of women entering the menswear custom clothing market and they are doing very well. With a wink to the past, we call them “Designing Women” as an homage to the 1980s television sitcom, where power dressing, big hair, and big shoulder pads ruled the day.

What brought you to tailoring/custom clothing?
A passion for sustainable fashion

How would you describe your business?
Boutique bespoke menswear

What is the makeup of your clientele?
Male, aged 19-99.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Finding that moment when everything clicks, and watching the client grow three inches taller with pride at how he looks.

What are the key stressors?
Running a business in a pandemic

What distinguishes your business from the competition?
The fact that we are (not intentionally) a primarily female business.

From an industry perspective, what improvements are needed to make custom more profitable for you? Mills, Merchants, Manufacturing, CMTs, City or Government Agencies, Technological improvements and/or advancements?
For VAT refunds in the UK to be reinstated.

Now that we have entered a post-pandemic phase of Covid, have you needed to change your fashion models and/or your styling? If so, what’s been working well for you from a fabric, model and/or style perspective?
Bamboo! We all adore it.

What type of training or schooling was required for you to become a tailor and/or a custom clothier?
A BA degree, then a classic Savile Row apprenticeship in cutting.

If you were to create a vision board that reflects your personal aspirations regarding your career, what might it look like? Goals, Motivators, Quotes, Fashion Influences, Muses, Challenges, Change
Expanding our brand in the States. We adore having the chance to work with Gladson New York. Thank you for being so hospitable!