Hand-tailored in a century old tradition

The industrious energy, the soft whirring of sewing machines, the Radio 2 sound track merging with the smooth, well worn wood, industrial cast iron machinery, vintage leather seats, bolts of glorious tweed, vibrant threads, colourful satins and sharp glinting steel shears create a visual tapestry that is honest and rich in a century old tradition.

Sue, Karen, Lynn, Viv, Lynz, Josie, Joan, Bev, Dawn, Chris, Laura, Morag, Derrick and James are hard at work in their specialised areas of the cap manufacturing process. The team have extensive histories in textiles, and demonstrate their honed skills and agile coordination needed for such precise craftsmanship.

The fabric is chalked, cut and “put up” into groups, the segments stitched together in sections; linings, outers and peaks. The haze and light as the seams are steamed flat. It’s a study in care, each cap constantly remeasured and checked for threads. “Blocking” – steaming each cap to contract the tweed around sized worn wooden blocks to perfect the size and shape. The culmination of this industrious art is the detailed hand stitching to round off a process that’s changed little in over a century, and long may it last...