A 2015 Christmas list
Last year I did a Christmas list around this time, collecting together some of my favourite things offered by the advertisers on Permanent Style. We don’t do much to shout about these brands that fund everything on PS, so I thought nice to d...
A 2015 Christmas list
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From what I understand they're the same quality - solid without being the best in the world...
Permanent Style square – 50 left
A quick reminder that our Permanent Style squares – unique, stylish, luxurious, and pictured above – are still available. So far just over half have been sold, and there is stock available in both the navy and ‘natura...
Permanent Style square – 50 left
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Nice! Never knew that's what it was called. Men's needs don't change, even over thousands of years......
How to wear the PS square scarf
As promised last week – when we introduced our latest collaboration, the PS square scarf – here are some step-by-step guides to wearing it. All images can be enlarged by clicking on them. The scarves are available to buy, in ...
How to wear the PS square scarf
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That appears to be a slightly different colour. Perhaps they don't do the same one anymore...
Introducing: the PS square scarf
Men have historically always worn something at the neck – if it wasn’t a tie, it was an ascot or a workman’s neckerchief. Such things are practical, for work and for warmth. Over the past six months we have been working with w...
Introducing: the PS square scarf
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No, sorry David no plans. The Anderson & Sheppard haberdashery does some nice versions...
The Finest Menswear in the World
Finally, wonderfully, the book on luxury craft I began writing three years ago is coming out: The Finest Menswear in the World. – You can buy your own personalised copy of The Finest Menswear in the World in the Permanent Style shop &...
The Finest Menswear in the World
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Thank you, Simon. Yes, I think makers, especially with own brand, like Zilli and Seraphin schould be in prioritet position. That's why I would add Hettabretz to your selection. I read what Hattabretz small maker with own...
Thank you (in Cifonelli and Begg)
Everything seems to be happening at once at the moment. Next week the Permanent Style magazines should be here, which is probably the most exciting thing. On Monday we held our first Gathering dinner, which everyone seemed to really enjoy. And we&a...
Thank you (in Cifonelli and Begg)
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I think it can look very nice. Bear in mind that linen and cotton will usually look more casual, though, and perhaps therefore better suited to casual jackets rather than suiting. Lightweight wools are often better with ...
Begg and Barbour in HTSI
For those that follow my column for How to Spend It magazine (part of the Financial Times), there have been two articles in the past month – on Barbour and on Begg. We’ve stuck with this format for almost 18 months now, as resp...
Begg and Barbour in HTSI
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Many thanks Simon, I will try that combination!...
Two interviews
A couple of nice interviews were published with me this week, by scarf-maker Begg and by shoe blog Claymoor’s list. The Begg one in particular is always nice to do at Pitti, with Yasuto Camoshita at United Arrows and Jonathan Kaiser at Be...
Two interviews
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I'm not actually a fan of Cucinelli's clothing! If talk of their generous pay is true, then I salute that. I followed the links that Stephen suggested above and it made for interesting reading. It's nice to know that the...
Quality, embroidery and mechanisation – at ...
The video above shows the key aspect of quality control at most weaving houses. Workers quickly scan the cloth for faults, then either snip off the stray end or – much more laboriously – manually reweave the thread back in. The...
Quality, embroidery and mechanisation – at ...
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It's true, though a huge amount of it is the inertia of labour force...
Begg & Co: luxury scarves, Ayr
Begg & Co is not in the most prepossessing location. Ayr is far from a glamorous location anyway, but the factory itself is down a side street, opposite several blocks of council flats. Still, that’s often the way with British fac...
Begg & Co: luxury scarves, Ayr
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Ah, ok thanks...
Begg’s milling machine
This is a milling machine. An old one. Part of the finishing process for woven cloth, milling involves pummelling the material in order to break up the fibres and pull them together. The cloth shrinks slightly, becoming denser and acquiring a spon...
Begg’s milling machine
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That's sick....
My Christmas list
At this time of year I normally do a list of Christmas gift suggestions. Apparently last year a reader took the initiative and left a print-out of the list sitting on a coffee table at home. It did the trick – a couple of the items turned...
My Christmas list
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I actually find that fine linen is very comfortable in that regard...
Postcard from Begg – teasels and cream cash...
One of the interesting tensions in a factory visit is the way machinery is portrayed. Some manufacturers will boast of their old, traditional methods, when in fact the same thing could be done, quicker, by a newer machine – they just can&...
Postcard from Begg – teasels and cream cash...
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Yes that would be nice. Not as versatile as most dark plain colours, but it is a nice subtle combination of shades...
Edward Green and Begg pop-up sale
Every year Edward Green does some kind of last-minute sale. In fact, just two weeks ago a reader asked when and where the next one would be. Well, it starts today – at the Old Truman Brewery just off Brick Lane. The sale is in conjunction...
Edward Green and Begg pop-up sale
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Will there be an Edward green winter sale this Christmas?...
How Pitti is changing
In my report on Pitti Uomo for Essence magazine I examine the manufacturers – such as Begg, Merola and Bresciani – that are becoming brands in their own right. Read it here. Pictured: Pino Luciano of Neapolitan tailors Orazio Luci...
How Pitti is changing
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That's a good question Alfred. I'll use it as a post sometime soon if that's ok? Simon...
Begg launches first collection at Pitti
One person it was nice to catch up with in Florence was Ann Ryley, who used to be sales and marketing director at Drake’s but left last year to help Scottish company Begg launch its first collection. Begg is an old name in Scottish weaving, g...
Begg launches first collection at Pitti
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Anything Michael Drake does will be wonderful. A lovely man with marvellous ideas. Lucky Begg to have him on board...
