Bespoke Process
Bespoke begins with an original brief and a pattern drafted for each client from scratch. The team develops toiles, refines construction, and adds hand finishing. Commission Bespoke for rethought proportions, singular design choices, or a piece intended as an heirloom. We can recreate an old to tell a new story. Think of Bespoke as a collaborative commission: thoroughly tested, lovingly made, and intended to be passed on.
Step One
The client submits an enquiry via the website, and may attach images by email or WhatsApp to illustrate a reference or idea. Brenda proposes an appointment to cover inspiration, desired changes, preferred fabrics, and timing constraints. Clients may request swatches by post to examine the fabric in natural light before the consultation. This early exchange clarifies what will be remade, what may be reinterpreted, and the practical options for samples, location, and next steps.
Step Two
Brenda meets the client in person or via Zoom and presents a selection of swatches, shown in natural light or shipped in advance. Sketches and proportion studies illustrate how the idea translates to the body, while precise measurements document posture, stance, and fit. The discussion covers construction options, linings, trims, and which sentimental details to preserve or adapt. These decisions form a focused brief that directs the cutter and workshop into the making stage.
Step Three
The cutter creates a bespoke pattern based on the brief. The workshop constructs a toile in plain cloth to reveal balance, drape, and silhouette, and to permit exacting adjustments before the final cloth faces cutting. For every bespoke commission, the atelier creates a toile, allowing the cutter to confirm proportions and the client to examine a working translation of the idea. The team schedules cutting only after the toile secures the intended fit.
Step Four
The client attends a first fitting with the toile to assess movement, shoulder set, sleeve length, and allowance for motion, and the maker marks the precise adjustments required. Fittings occur at the atelier, at the client’s home, or in a hotel suite. The maker also considers practical wear aspects, such as pockets, trouser, dress or skirt rise, and hem allowance, and records every change, issuing clear instructions to the cutter and finisher for execution.
Step Five
The client returns for a second fitting, this time in the chosen fabric, to review texture, drape, and internal construction. Linings, interfacing, and trims receive careful attention, and any minor refinements to hem length, button placement, or pocket set are addressed immediately. The workshop implements the agreed adjustments and delivers precise care guidance and notes on intended wear. This session confirms the harmony between cloth and cut before final assembly.
Step Six
At the final fitting, the maker presents the finished garment, allowing the client to judge its fit, finish, and function in a single moment. Where modest final work remains, the workshop completes it promptly to enable same-day collection when appropriate. Alternatively, the client may request secure courier delivery. The atelier retains the pattern and fit files for future commissions and alterations and maintains a technical archive so cherished pieces may be remade or refreshed with fidelity.