The Art And Heritage Of Tailoring: A Journey From Savile Row

Years ago, I was given a wonderful book, titled “Makers of distinguish”. It’s something that I’ve read many times over, and there’s one particular passage that really stands out to me:

“Good tailoring depends on good measurement”, said the great craftsman, Eric Gill, “and for that, the tailor and his customer must meet”. The ground upon which they meet is perhaps most expressive of everything for which the made-to-order draft trades stand and for this reason, the pursuit of the craftsman may start in Savile Row.

In the heart of London’s Mayfair – everyone’s favourite square on the Monopoly board - Savile Row has long been synonymous with the pinnacle of bespoke tailoring. For whatever reason I thought that Savile Row was spelled with two “l’s” – Saville, but as the book informed me, it was actually spelled “Savile”, which is the same spelling as the Savile Row suits I stock in my shop. 

This book always reminds me of the quality and integrity of those suits, and the heritage in tailoring that they represent.

Savile Row suits are made in China, and not in Mayfair. This move was initiated about 15 years ago to bring prices into reality and appeal to a broader market. However, despite the change in manufacturing location, these suits still uphold traditional English methods of fitting and cutting. They offer a custom-made experience that is a step away from the high-end bespoke tailoring but still provides a personal touch.

We often forget just how much modern suit culture owes to England. “Bespoke” itself, an Old English word meaning ‘spoken for’, today represents the epitome of tailoring. If you want a great-fitting, long-lasting suit that that will help you look your best and move in confidence in the world, it needs to be a bespoke suit. 

People come to Pascalis for that experience, because bespoke is a process where a customer’s specific requests are catered to, creating a unique piece that is ‘spoken for’ by them. What people often don’t realise about the wisdom of the British suitmakers is that bespoke suits – the things that made Savile Row the famous, deeply historical location and tradition that it is – end up being more cost-effective, too. Not only is a well-fitting suit more durable because it’s better fitting to the body, but once the tailor has your measurements on file, buying additional, matching clothing becomes a much more seamless process.

Today, Savile Row doesn’t just stop at suits; they also offer sports coats. This versatility allows customers to choose pieces that best suit their style and needs. For tailors, it means our ability to offer bespoke clothing options is enhanced even further. For those looking for more than just a custom-made piece, we can effectively offer a full, bespoke, wardrobe. These coats are made locally in Sydney, Australia, using fabrics from Huddersfield or Drago, sourced from England or Italy. The bespoke pieces are created keeping in mind the customer’s style and fit preferences.

Our collection boasts a variety of suit fabrics that cater to different tastes and occasions. From patterns perfect for weddings to sand and salt-coloured suits and those that appeal to people who prefer blues, there’s something for everyone. Ultimately, the thing that Savile Row pioneered and invented itself as the global leader in – the reason that the book opens its chapter the way it does – is that Savile Row understood what we understand at Pascalis: choosing a suit is a personal experience. We’re here to guide you through it and share our expertise to help you make your decision, but our bespoke approach means that ultimately we will find something that works for you.

The next time you’re in Sydney, drop by our shop and take the opportunity to trace the heritage of fine tailoring, as represented by the best bespoke suits Sydney has to offer, and other clothing from Savile Row. We’ve got other book recommendations that we can share, too!