At Dugdale Bros, we love to see long-standing textiles and tailoring traditions being passed on through the generations. Our own story is just one chapter within Huddersfield’s illustrious cloth-making history, so it’s inspiring to see young, talented individuals from the area continuing to drive this narrative forward.
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The next sartorial professional to take part in our Q&A is Charlotte Henderson– undercutter at Savile Row’s Davies & Son.
1. Where did your tailoring journey begin?
My tailoring journey began at Davies & Son where I currently am now.
2. Where did you study?
Before my apprenticeship at Davies & Son, I attended the London College of Fashion studying Fashion Design and Marketing.
3. Who inspired you to become a tailor?
No one – I wanted to broaden my knowledge of pattern cutting and the construction of garments, and to me, the world of bespoke tailoring was the best place to learn about it.
4. If you weren’t a tailor, what would you be?
If I wasn’t a tailor I’d have liked to have been involved in costume design for the television and theatre; particularly period drama costumes.
5. Which designers do you most admire?
Yves Saint Laurent has always been a designer I have admired since doing a project on him at secondary school. He changed the way women dressed in accordance to the way society was changing, and made the art world and fashion world collide.
6. What is your favourite part of the job?
My favourite part of the job is getting a new piece of cloth to strike; it’s the start of a brand new suit being made.
7. Which of your pieces are you most proud of?
I made a jacket for my grandad for his 85th birthday from start to finish. It pushed me to learn new skills and I was very proud of what I made for him.
8. How important are ethics and sustainability to you?
Ethics and sustainability is very important, there is far too much fast fashion and need for the latest look. Bespoke tailoring is the complete opposite and that’s what I love about it; the garments are classic and made to last a life time and can do just that if looked after properly. We often have clothing brought back that are over 50 years old that someone has inherited and would like it to fit them.
9. Describe your style of tailoring in three words…
I would describe my style of tailoring as classic, waisted and sharp.
10. What one piece of advice would you give to anyone wanting to start out in tailoring?
Perseverance. You have to keep going into the tailoring houses with your cv so they remember your face and they can see how much you want to be a tailor – that’s how I did it.
11. What do you hope to have achieved in 10 years’ time?
In the next 10 years I will have liked to have learned more skills on the making side of tailoring and I would also like to focus more on women’s tailoring.
12. If you could describe Huddersfield’s reputation on the global cloth map in one word, what would that word be?
Heritage would be a word I would use to describe Huddersfield’s reputation on the global cloth map.
13. What is your house style?
The Davies and Son house style is a very classic English cut; waisted but not too much skirt creating an hourglass figure.
14. If you had to choose one of our cloths for yourself which would it be and why?
I would probably choose a cloth from your Lightweight Tartans bunch because I love to wear tartan/check trousers.
