Me, proudly wearing the first suit Gresham made for me
Now, traditionally, Bespoke Tailoring is very male-dominated and posh.
I have a few traits that did not quite fit into that mould.
Firstly, I am female.
Secondly, I am not white.
Thirdly, I am very vertically challenged!
I am not what you would typically expect as ‘YOUR BESPOKE CONSULTANT’ if you were buying a suit in Savile Row. And, over the years, I have surprised a number of my client at that first consultation when I have said that I will be looking after them today.
However, what I have found, is what people want is – simply people that are very dedicated to what they do and have skills and knowledge to back that up.
From the first bespoke suit that Gresham made from me, I was completely hooked on tailoring.
My vision was to be able to provide this to everybody, in particular women.
At Gresham Blake, we now specialise in women’s bespoke tailoring. We have created patterns and designs which produce empowering garments, whatever direction you want to take. Designing a women’s bespoke suit is the ultimate gender-neutral experience, where you can find yourself and express who you are through a beautifully tailored, stylish garment.
Bespoke tailoring has not been on most women’s radars, in part, because it has been so closely associated with menswear, but also because it’s been sold with the image of ‘gentlemen’s clubs’ and ‘country estates.’
For me, it’s completely the opposite. I want to break those stuffy stereotypes and simply make well made, contemporary clothing for the individual.
More and more women are getting frustrated with the process of finding things that fit them well. I am proud of the ladies tailoring services we provide.
And did you know that 80% of the Gresham Blake team are Female?
“Ohh, it’s a women’s tailor”, I still get that a lot.
Unlike nuclear DNA, your mitochondrial DNA can only be passed down from your mother!
The mitochondria are specialised for producing the energy that each cell needs to function, and it is the reason that we can move our muscles or even think thoughts.
“On this International Women’s Day, I would like to thank my mum, my mother-in-law, and the generations of females rooted in my history for my internal strength.”
SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY MEGA OFFER
BESPOKE 2PC SUIT – £600 (normally £1000+) – This week only
The offer ends on Sunday 13th March
Simply, purchase the suit deal online then one of our bespoke tailoring consultants will call you to book you an appointment.
This is an offer not to be missed! With hundreds of British cloths to choose from this is your chance to design your perfect bespoke suit.
Treat yourself on International Women’s Day to something you will treasure forever.
Planning a wedding right now is challenging. Let us help you LOOK YOUR BEST on your wedding day.
As we turn the corner of the New Year, we know we are not alone in willing it to be a more positive one! Stepping into 2022 with an optimistic mentality, why not put your best foot forward and make sure that your clothes follows suit, pardon the pun! A GB bespoke piece is guaranteed to make you look and feel your absolute best at every occasion this year. Whether it’s a wedding, a party or a just well-earned get together. It will be such a relief to get back into our glad rags. Which is the perfect excuse to scope out our bespoke services, at Gresham Blake we offer a plethora of fabrics that will inspire the suavest of looks, guaranteed to have you looking and feeling your absolute best!
Do you have a special occasion on the horizon such as a WEDDING?
If so, it’s important to look and feel your best. Wearing a suit off the peg might be convenient, but does it deliver the confidence and swagger you need to make a grand appearance and stand out from the crowd?
When you’re ready to make a dazzling impression, only a bespoke suit will do.
Today, we’re sharing a guide to our bespoke tailoring process and the radical difference it makes when it’s time to shine.
Ready to learn more? Let’s get started!
What is a Bespoke Suit?
Any clothing retailer can offer a suit that looks great off the peg. Yet, unless it’s designed to fit your exact measurements, it could end up both uncomfortable and unsightly once you try it on.
Franky Vicentio wearing a Gresham Blake 3 piece Black Silk Suit
We have a team of Expert Tailors at both our Shoreditch London and Brighton stores. When you choose the bespoke route, you’ll work with our tailors from the very beginning to create the perfect suit. We’ll spare no detail and take everything into consideration.
While the entire process takes around eight weeks, we can accommodate shorter timelines by special request by the customer. Let’s take a look at the process from start to finish.
Fabric Selection
Bespoke Cloth
From weddings and graduations to corporate events and galas, we understand that sometimes, you need a one-of-a-kind fabric that we don’t have in stock. If that’s the case, we’re more than happy to help you create it!
Our skilled design team will walk you through each step of this exciting and rewarding journey, taking into account both the exterior fabric and lining of your suit. Whether you’re creating a printed lining, suiting or shirting, we’ll help bring your ideas to life. We specialize in print design and woven jacquards!
Premium Cloths
While we have access to an extensive range of British milled cloths, we can also interpret a variety of other fabrics upon request. You can design your own print, insert panels, and add seams as desired!
Some of our premium fabric choices designed for suits and waistcoats include:
A sweet little fluffy Angora Goat – looking effortlessly stylish
This luxuriously soft fabric is made from the hair of an Angora goats. Renowned around the world for its glistening sheen, mohair is also one of the most durable and great-wearing materials on the market!
It was huge in the 60’s – all the Mod’s wore Mohair, and looked super sharp.
And by the way, did you know Mohair is James Bond cloth of choice?
Prefer a wool suit? It’s one of the most timeless and attractive options, but it’s far from standard. As not all wool is created equal, let’s review how to discern the difference.
Understanding Worsted Wool and the Super System
In short, worsted wool is comprised of long fibres spun into a fine yarn. The result? A cloth that is sleek, refined and perfect for a variety of suit types. In addition to being attractive and versatile, worsted wool is also:
Breathable
Sturdy
Water-resistant
Wrinkle-resistant
If you’ve decided to use this fabric for your bespoke suit, your next step will be to navigate the Super System. These are the series of numbers that you’ve likely seen while shopping for a suit in the past. What do they mean?
The Super System is designed to represent the fabric’s fineness. Put simply, the number dictates how many times the wool has been twisted. As that count rises, so does the look and feel of the material. Still, all varieties possess the premium qualities of worsted wool.
For instance, a Super 180 suit will have a smoother appearance than a Super 80 suit, but that doesn’t mean the latter is lower quality. It will simply have a coarser and sturdier look. As a general rule of thumb, higher-number suits are reserved for more special occasions while lower-count varieties are ideal for regular, everyday use.
As you do your research and browse your options, keep in mind that the Super System is not internationally standardised. Our team of tailors has its own guide and will advise you on the ideal number count that’s appropriate to your needs.
There’s no designer touch we can’t add. Our tailors will take every consideration to help to create a design that fits your event and surpass your expectations. When you want to showcase your individual style, we’re your go-to Tailor!
Accents of ‘Fun’ on Gresham Blake Clothing….It’s the detail that counts!
While we pride ourselves in creating suits that “wow” on the outside, we know that true craftsmanship is in the details. That’s why we focus on the minute features that make a bespoke suit so special, including hand-sewn buttonholes, hand-stitched linings and turn-back collars.
We LOVE little accents of fun, and will guide you with what works. For example, our very special client Mr. Honey likes Bumblebees embroidered under his top collar. This is embroidered onto a melton, which can also be in a contrasting colour.
These personal touches make the suit YOURS.
Measurements and Fittings
Our team will normally require only one to two fittings to make sure your new suit fits exactly the way it’s meant to. Our professionals can utilise contemporary or traditional tailoring techniques depending on your preferences.
Our contemporary tailoring services are more modern in nature, offering enhanced flexibility over traditional tailors. We’ll create any pattern or style you desire, and make sure it fits like a charm before your big reveal.
With a traditional tailoring experience, we’ll create a personal pattern that fits your measurements. Then, we’ll construct the garment with a loose canvas, allowing it to mould perfectly to your body shape and movements. This way, you can rest assured that your suit will flow as effortlessly and stylishly as you do, all night long.
At Gresham Blake, we’ll take the time and care to create a bespoke suit that meets your exact specifications. Thanks to our design-led approach, nothing is out of the question.
At Gresham Blake…anything is possible!
Let’s take a look at a few of our different cuts and styles you can peruse when you go for your consultation.
Suit Cuts
Our three main suit cuts include:
Classic Fit
Relaxed Fit
Slim Fit
Our tailors will work with you to determine which cut flatters your features and meets your personal style preference.
Jackets: What Style?
We offer a vast range of styles for our suit jackets, all of which are available upon request. These include Single Breasted/ Double Breasted/ Nehru Styles incorporating single-button, double-button, no-show buttons, and more,
We can also design three-button suit jackets, high-button styles, and other custom touches.
Jackets: Lapels
Your lapel is a place to make a style statement. We can accommodate a variety of styles, including:
Shawl lapels
Classic notch lapels (3.5-inch)
Narrow notch lapels (2-inch to 3.25-inch)
Peak lapels
When you want to turn heads for all the right reasons, you can also embellish your lapel! Our special additions include:
Contrasting top collars
Contrasting meltons under collars
Custom binding detail
HEE/AMF stitching
We also offer a variety of vent styles (back of jacket), pocket styles, and cuff styles for you to select! In addition to suit jackets, we can also create country-wear jackets and bespoke evening jackets perfect for a refined night on the town. In addition, our selection of longer wedding jackets is impressive and inspiring, with styles that include:
Morning coats
Classic white-tie coats
Frock coats
Waistcoats
Worn alone or as part of a three-piece suit, a waistcoat is a wardrobe staple. Why not make yours as unique as possible? Our tailors can create any design you dream up and add any special feature, such as:
Contrasting lapels
Custom button details
Contrasting buttonholes
Vertical chain holes for pocket watches
Horseshoe openings
Trousers
Depending on your body type, event and personal style preference, our tailors can provide many different kinds of trouser styles. Some of our top designs include:
Want to stand a little taller and feel your best when it’s your turn to shine?
If so, only a bespoke suit from Gresham Blake will do.
Steve Coogan being fitted for a Bespoke Suit with Gresham Blake at our Brighton Store.
We offer an entirely personalized experience from the very start, with fair prices that beat most of our competitor’s. We believe that luxury and high end fashion do not have to come with a soaring price tag, and we’re dedicated to helping you look great without emptying your new designer pockets.
We are happy to keep hold of suits for up to 8 weeks following completion. After this date we will ask you to come in and try on your garments. We will do a fitting to the point where we both agree that we all are happy with the fit and style of your garment.
If you have had to change your plans and postpone wear date to 2021, we will be more than happy to refit your garments closer to your wear date. We will give you a credit of up to £100 for alterations on your garments. This will ensure you get the perfect fit.
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN A YEAR
If you have changed shape considerably between picking your garment up and your wear date, please come and see us at least 8 weeks prior to your new wear day so that we can help you look at all options.
Traditionally the third piece for a suit – matching the jacket and trouser or as a contrasting colour.
But you can wear separately too!
At Gresham Blake we can offer any style of waistcoat in cut and design. With thousands of cloths to choose from including wools, cottons, silks, and linens. We will help you design the perfect waistcoat.
At Gresham Blake, we are experts in making women’s suits.
Co- Founder Fal Blake, has ensured that since we set up the business, we have prioritised our Women’s Bespoke Tailoring Services.
We will match you to the right tailoring consultant who will guide you through this exciting process and ultimately design the best bespoke suit for you.
We will consider everything that you think is relevant and give you as much advice as you need.
Proud to be ‘design-led’ tailors, we will give you thousands of cloths to choose from, but we can even design a bespoke cloth for you.
YOUR LOOK
Style-wise, it will be your design that we incorporate into the pattern and we will guide you through this. The details will make that suit personal for you. Options include lapel style and width, types of pockets, ticket pocket (or not), side vent, single vent, button style, belt loops, side adjusters, zip fly button fly, plain bottoms, turn ups…the many more. You can also personalise your suit. Why not have your initials or the date of your wedding embroidered somewhere discretely inside your suit? Or have something quirky embroidered underneath the melton on your top collar?
MEASURMENTS
Your measurements will be taken, as well as notes on build, stance and posture.
We will make you a perfectly fitting suit incorporating your style in the design, possibly with little accents of fun in the detail that will make you feel amazing on your wedding day and beyond.
WEDDING PACKAGES
At Gresham Blake we understand the need to create the perfect wedding suit, we are passionate about working with you and your wedding party to tailor the unique outfit that you are looking for
We also provide a wedding package service, with special rates – where we can accommodate the entire wedding party. Whether it’s a matching suit for your best man/lady, matching waistcoats for your entourage, or accessories to complete the look. Please email us with your specific requirements and we will be delighted to assist.
Since 2000, we have built up an excellent reputation – not just for the quality and the fit of our suits, but also the experience that we share with our clients.
We have thousands of cloths to choose from
Wedding suits start from £700 for a 2 piece
Our expert tailors will guide you through every stage
It takes approx. 6-8 weeks from receipt of cloth to make a suit
When you put on a day to day suit, it’s as much ‘How you feel’ as ‘How you look’. Gresham Blake makes Business suits that you WANT to wear rather than HAVE to wear.
It is just as much ‘how you feel’ when you put on a suit as ‘how it makes you look’
BOOK A CONSULTATION
A day to day suit, one that you ‘want’ to wear rather than ‘have’ to wear, which makes you feel your best. One that you can dress up or down, depending on how you feel.
A perfect business suit needs comfort as well as style, tailored to make you feel fantastic. We understand the daily demands that may be placed on work suits with potential heavy wear and travelling.
Our team of Bespoke consultants will give you the right advise on the best options for you. For business wear, we would take into consideration how smart you need to look, how durable you need the cloth to be and how comfortable to wear the cloth is.
We will guide you through our extensive cloth/lining ranges and together we will design a beautifully tailored business suit with little accents of detail should you wish.
Being very competitively priced, we can guarantee you will not be disappointed.
We have thousands of cloths to choose from
Business suits start from £800 for a 2 piece (do ask our team for special promotions
Our expert tailoring consultants will guide you through every stage
It takes approximately 6 – 8 weeks from receipt of cloth to make a suit (but we do have an express service).
At Gresham Blake, we understand the importance of looking good and feeling your best on your wedding day. We offer a Bespoke Tailoring Service at its BEST.
At Gresham Blake, we understand the importance of looking good and feeling your best on your wedding day.
We will match you to the right tailoring consultant who will guide you through this exciting process and ultimately design the best bespoke suit for you.
We will consider everything that you think is relevant and give you as much advice as you need.
Proud to be ‘design-led’ tailors, we will give you thousands of cloths to choose from, but we can even design a bespoke cloth for you.
YOUR LOOK
Style wise, it will be your design that we incorporate into the pattern and we will guide you through this. The details will make that suit personal for you. Options include lapel style and width, types of pockets, ticket pocket (or not), side vent, single vent, button style, belt loops, side adjusters, zip fly button fly, pain bottoms, turn ups…the many more. You can also personalise your suit. Why not have your initials or the date of your wedding embroidered somewhere discretely inside your suit? Or have something quirky embroidered underneath the melton on your top collar?
MEASUREMENTS
Your measurements will be taken, as well as notes on build, stance, and posture.
We will make you a perfectly fitting suit incorporating your style in the design, possibly with little accents of fun in the detail that will make you feel amazing on your wedding day and beyond.
At Gresham Blake we understand the need to create the perfect wedding suit, we are passionate about working with you and your wedding party to tailor the unique outfit that you are looking for.
WEDDING PACKAGES
We also provide a wedding package service, with special rates – where we can accommodate the entire wedding party from best man to groomsman, whether it’s a matching suit for your best man/lady, matching waistcoats for your groomsmen, or accessories to complete the look. Please email us with your specific requirements and we will be delighted to assist.
Since 2000, we have built up an excellent reputation – not just for the quality and the fit of our suits, but also the experience that we share with our clients.
We have thousands of cloths to choose from
Wedding suits start from £700 for a 2 piece
Our expert tailors will guide you through every stage
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