Since 1892, Causse has been one of France’s premier glovemakers and remains the oldest glove brand in the country. Hailing from Millau, an area synonymous with high-end leather goods manufacturing and, particularly, the art of handmade gloves, Causse has been supplying the grand couture houses and fashion labels for over one hundred years. Indeed, the firm is part of the Chanel Maisons d’Art initiative celebrating their distinct heritage and close relationship with the iconic fashion house. Causse gloves can be customised to the client’s particular preferences making them a highly coveted marque.
Tag Archives: HANDMADE
KITON
Kiton is a revered brand, well known to the world’s best dressed men. The brand was established in 1968 by Ciro Paone who had already launched a successful apparel company in 1956 in his home city of Naples. He sought to build upon that experience and on the city’s legacy as a global epicentre of fine tailoring and shirtmaking with the launch of his own tailoring house, a house which would use only the finest materials and the most careful and precise craftsmanship. His mission was single-minded: to be the world’s pre-eminent tailoring studio. The brand quickly won over the most discerning Neapolitan gentlemen and grew to become one of the most coveted bespoke suit makers on the planet. Paone expanded his brand to offer a wide range of apparel, accessories and leather goods, with various off-the-rack pieces made to the same exacting standards and high quality as his bespoke options and, as such, Kiton is renowned as a top-tier, quiet luxury brand.
CAMICERIA TIZIANO
A bespoke shirting house in Milan, Camiceria Tiziano has been outfitting many of Italy’s most discerning and best-dressed clientele since it opened in 1947. The small studio offers a bespoke, custom shirtmakers including luxurious fabrics and detailing. In addition, Camiceria Tiziano produces a range of accessories and handmade neckties. Their Milanese boutique also carries a broad selection of ready-to-wear shirts and accessories.
ALMINI
A boutique Milanese shoemaker and leather goods atelier that was established by Pietro Almini in 1921. The marque is renowned as a maker of high-quality, handmade footwear, bespoke to a customer’s exact specifications. Almini uses a wide range of hides and tans with a full suite of colourways. Their casual shoes are particularly sought after. The brand’s craftsmanship extends to various leather goods and accessories including bags, belts and travelling accoutrements.
FREDERICK SCHOLTE
Frederick Scholte is often heralded as the originator of the Drape suit and the London Cut / English-style tailoring, the style that has come to define Savile Row. A Dutchman, Scholte emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1880 at the age of 15 or 16. He apprenticed as a tailor, working with the Household Cavalry where he cut military uniforms to the exacting standards of the officers of The Life Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and The Royal Dragoons which then comprised the Household Cavalry and today are better known as The Blues and Royals and The Life Guards. These regiments were historically associated with the nobility, with many of their officers being commissioned from the upper echelons of society. These officers would have deep pockets and high expectations. Scholte would have needed to produce pieces to meet these specifications, with many of the officers using their bespoke uniforms as a means of demonstrating wealth and status and informally competing with one another to be the best presented. Scholte quickly earned a reputation as an outstanding tailor, whose craft was sought out by various members of high society outside of the military. He established his own workshop in the late 1890s and took on a number of apprentices, including Per Anderson who would go on to found his own atelier, Anderson & Sheppard. Scholte’s eye for an exquisite suit, borrowing from the military silhouette but giving a more relaxed, elegant look earned him an envious client list, including the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII, becoming the Duke of Windsor on his abdication), an icon of men’s style. The studio ceased trading on Scholte’s death in the 1940s but the occasional vintage piece still attracts great interest and many are featured in museums and galleries.
HERMÈS
The ultimate in luxury brands, Hermès is synonymous with opulent and sumptuous goods, finished to the highest standards. This house has perfected the art of luxury since its foundation as a saddlery in 1837. From the outset, the Hermès brand was a favourite of the highest of nobility and the Parisian elite who would seek out no other maker for their equestrian and carriage equipment. The maison would use it’s leather-making expertise to craft various other accoutrement essential to the comfortable travel of its distinguished customers, including luggage and travel cases. With the advent of the automotive age, the brand would apply its prestige and know-how to upholstering the very best motor cars and expanding into leather goods, such as handbags, belts, boots and so forth. This also marked the transformation of the brand into a high fashion label, renowned for their selection of the best materials and elaborate prints to create beautiful accessories and apparel. Today the brand stands as the height of luxury, admired and desired throughout the world.
EDE & RAVENSCROFT
The oldest tailoring house in London, Ede & Ravenscroft has carved out a reputation as the leading specialist for academic robes, legal and clerical attire, livery wear and peerage robes. Founded over 300 years ago in 1689, the firm has been the go-to supplier for the judiciary, Oxbridge universities and the Crown since, with Royal Warrants awarded. The house maintains two branches, the primary location being on Chancery Lane and the secondary is in the West End’s Burlington Gardens, giving the firm the rightful claim of being a traditional Savile Row tailor to boot. Indeed, customers, many of whom share generational legacies with Ede’s, may commission any manner of tailored piece from the team of master tailors and cutters.
ARMORIAL
A legendary stationers based in Paris, Armorial was founded in 1890. The maison has been a go-to for Parisian society ever since. Armorial’s range includes luxury stationery, which can be customised to a client’s exact needs. The firm also produces a range of luxurious leather goods and accessories.
CAMBRILLÓN
A highly sought-out bespoke shoemaker, Cambrillón makes its shoes by hand in the traditional fashion from their workshop in Almansa, the heart of Spain’s historic leather industry. In addition to beautiful, fully custom footwear, the brand also produces a range of luxury leather goods.
ACHILLE MANNARA: A CLASSIC NEAPOLITAN CAMICERIA
Achille Mannara is a classic Neapolitan shirtmaker, offering a range of handmade, bespoke shirting and off the rack options to a discerning, international client base. The camiceria was founded in 1995 and, over the years, has grown their exquisite product range to include various handmade silk ties and accessories to complement their legendary shirts.
