William Abraham: behind the scenes
One of the first people I met in New York last week was Bram Frankel, founder of William Abraham socks. Bram’s product is nothing less than a step change for the industry – something few companies achieve in a business as conservative a...
William Abraham: behind the scenes
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I do that on knitwear too - works a treat...
Buying affordable luxury
Last month, a reader asked for some recommendations of “affordable luxury”. By this, I think he meant items that weren’t necessarily that expensive, but were nonetheless luxurious. The best (a little) money could buy. Buying the bes...
Buying affordable luxury
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Today, I received a very beautiful and, in my opinion, a vital sartorial accessory... A coin & key purse made by the leather goods firm Visconti. This, IMO is affordable luxury. This is the GINO Model. It has two zip...
William Abraham – innovative, luxury socks
In the past few years some of Europe’s bigger sock makers have been pushing their own branding and online sales. There is now far greater availability of high-quality over-the-calf socks, which is great. The problem is, the design element c...
William Abraham – innovative, luxury socks
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At this moment, my favourite sock is the Super Durable in cotton made by Manzarin and bought from Mes Chaussettes Rouge. I'm UK shoe size 12 but their size is up to 11.5 which is fine....
Charvet ties: the cost of choice
The cost of variety is rarely appreciated by consumers. Among all the things that make up the price of a piece of clothing – materials, labour, rent, tax, marketing, R&D – the waste implicit in a broad range is hardly ever conside...
Charvet ties: the cost of choice
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Is it possible to get hold of Charvet's knitted ties online or through mail order? I've searched everywhere for a black knit tie, but it seems less easy to get than one would suppose....
A (Christmas) word from our sponsors
One of the nice things about having nice advertisers is the range of Christmas shopping ideas they present. Here are my favourites. Among the best additions to the collection at Drake’s are the untipped cashmeres in various shades of grey. The ...
A (Christmas) word from our sponsors
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A Fine Pair of Shoes - my supplier of Saphir Shoe & Leather Polish and related products, probably the best around!...
How to wear socks with a suit: Reader question
Colours that go with tan Dear Simon, I’m getting stuck putting an outfit together, and what it comes down to is the socks. I’m wearing a mid-grey worsted wool suit with a sky-blue shirt and regimental tie of burgundy and navy st...
How to wear socks with a suit: Reader question
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Not sure I quite agree with Antonio, but if you're not going to think about them, then yes navy is probably the safest option!...
Hamilton & Hare boxer shorts
Normal.dotm 0 0 1 294 1678 Euromoney PLC 13 3 2060 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false One of the pleasures of writing this blog is meeting entrepreneurs. I’m not sure I’d ever have the courage to strike out on my own and found...
Hamilton & Hare boxer shorts
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The proof (in terms of price) is how comfortable the boxer is to wear and these are by far the most comfortable boxer short i have worn. I also think the packaging with the wash bag is novel and means you are less likely...
Corgi: The machines
There are three types of knitting machines at Corgi: old, domestic models; double-bed machines; and single-bed machines. All require hand framing – that is, the worker must pull the carriage up and down by hand. The domestic machines are whit...
Corgi: The machines
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I used to own a small handflat knitting firm,and was taught how to knit at 14 mainly to earn a bit of pocket money .We used mainly 4gge universal or 4.5 gge Dubied's and also 2.5 gge, my mum and dads knitwear firm also h...
Corgi: Factory visit
Corgi is a lovely little company, just outside Swansea in south Wales. It’s been around since 1893 and has the Prince of Wales’s royal warrant. But, more importantly, it’s one of only a few companies left in the UK doing hand-framed...
Corgi: Factory visit
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Corgi tend not to make to the same fineness, but they do some great thicker socks, and some great hand-framed pieces too - or at least they did when I was there...
Zimmerli: The Underwear Project
Of all the factories I have visited for the current book, the contrast between product and production was greatest at Zimmerli. The production facility is a small, two-storey building in Coldrerio, a Swiss town just across the border from Como. Walki...
Zimmerli: The Underwear Project
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Really? I get a lot of options. Perhaps try again and let me know? I don't wear boxer shorts, so not Brycelands. I wear Sunspel but would wear Zimmerli if I could afford it...
Postcard from Spirano
At Bresciani today, in Spirano just outside Bergamo. Lovely socks, and some nice sheep too. They’ll be the socks chapter of my upcoming book. More photos on www.andybarnham.com
Postcard from Spirano
At Bresciani today, in Spirano just outside Bergamo. Lovely socks, and some nice sheep too. They’ll be the socks chapter of my upcoming book. More photos on www.andybarnham.com...
Postcard from Switzerland
In Coldrerio and Mendrisio, Switzerland, today to visit Zimmerli underwear. That’s the cloth being cut in Mendrisio. Zimmerli will be included in The Finest Menswear in the World as the producer of the best underwear. More photos on www.a...
Postcard from Switzerland
In Coldrerio and Mendrisio, Switzerland, today to visit Zimmerli underwear. That’s the cloth being cut in Mendrisio. Zimmerli will be included in The Finest Menswear in the World as the producer of the best underwear. ...
Sunspel: The underwear project
The second brand to be tested as part of The Underwear Project is very British company Sunspel. (Previous post, on The White Briefs, can be seen here.) Sunspel is the cheapest of the brands on offer. Their regular briefs are £25. The same model...
Sunspel: The underwear project
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From the perspective of the potential impact on tailoring, what your preferred underwear styling, ie boxer, brief, boxer brief?...
The White Briefs: The underwear project
A few weeks ago I began a project to search out the best underwear made anywhere in the world. Obviously, given the focus of Permanent Style, the focus would be on both quality, including materials and construction, and style. The first is fairly obj...
The White Briefs: The underwear project
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Thanks Joel. In general the quality is high with Tom Ford things (as with most designer brands actually) it's just value for money that they struggle on....
Long socks or no socks at all
The first question everyone asks about over-the-calf socks is: Are they not too hot? No, the difference in heat is pretty tiny for a couple of inches of wool/cotton/blend, and the difference in style is immeasurable. Shorter socks don’t stay up...
Long socks or no socks at all
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Actually working on a piece on that Edward, will have it ready soon!...
My red socks
Jacques Tiberghien and Vincent Metzger discovered the small house of Gammarelli in Rome several years ago. Although only a small workshop, it makes all the outfits, from robes to mitres, for the pope, cardinals and bishops of Rome. Jacques and Vincen...
My red socks
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I have sweaty feet and run cold so I’ll test a high thread count superfine merino version and report back....
Wine-red socks with a grey suit
This series is a progression in socks, from the most conservative to the most flamboyant colour combinations. It is important to start slowly and build to greater sophistication. Colour is tricky; so much can go wrong in a shade. Buy one or two pairs...
Wine-red socks with a grey suit
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Thanks, The Armoury has their own collection of Bresciani OTC wool socks which have all the essential colors. Asking them to see how they compare to the Mazarin equivalent in terms of thickness as I am looking for a thin...
Green socks with a blue suit
A man has come a long way when he shifts to proper socks – calf length and in navy, grey and charcoal to match the day’s suit. Too many remain stuck in the teenage mindset that short, black socks go with everything. They don’t; they...
Green socks with a blue suit
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Hi Jean, Yes if you like colour there I can see how that could be nice...
Jewel in Vienna: Wilhelm Jungmann Und Neffe
A recent trip to Vienna for a Central & Eastern Europe Finance Forum (don’t ask) was enlivened by the discovery of Wilhelm Jungmann und Neffe. A men’s outfitter of the first order, it has been supplying accessories, cloth and tai...
Jewel in Vienna: Wilhelm Jungmann Und Neffe
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Good morning, I notice there have not been any recent postings about Wilhelm Jung and Neff so I would like to add my own comments about the surprisingly appalling attitude of the owner of the shop. My son and I visited t...
