Today I decided to drop by Mr. Trabalza’s workshop on La Cienega just north of Melrose. It’s tucked away among other local businesses on this busy street in West Hollywood. A lady answered the door and walked to the back workroom and brought out the tailor. I didn’t have an appointment but wanted to see […]
Bespoke in West Hollywood: A visit to Giacomo Trabalza Read More »
Back in April 2005, I wrote a “marketing 101” entry for bespoke tailors and thought a recent discussion thread I created would be a useful sequel. A few weeks ago I posted a marketing related thread on AskAndy about the web as an underutilized marketing channel for tailors, shirtmakers and other bespoke artisans. I listed
Marketing 201 for tailors: Pourquoi le web site? Read More »
I’ve seen vintage neckties around 2.5″ wide and 50″ long. These days the standard tie size is about 3.75″ wide and 58-60″ long. This “standard” size seems to have gotten wider and longer over the years. Consequently, I have always had a devilishly difficult time finding ready to wear ties shorter and narrower than the
Custom or made-to-measure neckties Read More »
Recently I posted identical AskAndy and LondonLounge threads concerning the rightful possession of the design or pattern of bespoke garments and apparel. Below is an excerpt of my post: Perusing the bespoke section on the Grenson website, I came across the notion that the last is the customer’s “personal property”. This raises some intriguing questions
Bespoke property rights: who owns the pattern / last? Read More »
In my web journeys, I have come across two other Viennese tailors: Malowan and Netousek. Malowan According to a 2003 Welt am Sonntag article, Malowan is described as being located on the Opernring and founded in 1823 by Maria Malowan, a shirtmaker whose detailed work was highly prized by ‘higher society’. In 1968 the business
More Viennese tailors: Malowan and Netousek Read More »
A week after I had posted my “definitive” (ahem) introduction to Knize below, I came across this excellent Welt am Sonntag article on former imperial luxury goods purveyors including Knize. Some fascinating tidbits from the article and elsewhere: Knize trivia Knize is pronounced “Knische” (apparently arising from the pronunciation of the family name Kníže in
Postscript to Knize Read More »
Despite living in the age of Google with ostensibly ubiquitous access to information, I have been often surprised by the lack of information regarding bespoke tailors – specifically, by the lack of a visual record on the cut and silhouette of the major tailoring houses that survive today in England, Italy, Austria and elsewhere. When
Viennese tailors: A definitive web introduction to Knize Read More »
Like death and taxes, pulled threads are inevitable and should be dealt with quickly and proficiently. This is especially important on woolens such as flannel. I had a pulled thread on a Brioni suit and was rather ignorant of the best way to proceed. Whatever you do, DO NOT cut the pulled thread loop. That
Practical tip: fixing a loose or pulled thread Read More »
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