Bespoke Services
Contemporary Bespoke
This is the most poplar choice. Finished with great care, using modern techniques, the jacket has a more engineered appearance, with clean lines and a sharp contemporary finish. It has a floated chest piece and fusing is used to secure the jackets fit.
Our tailoring consultants will assist you in identifying your individual style requirements and incorporate these into the suit. The suit jacket may have a try on stage depending on the style and customers shape. This is a versatile choice where cloth selections can be made to accommodate everyday work wear or special occasions. Gresham says, “People find these suits to be great value and they fit so much better than an off the peg suit. I tend to wear mine for every day use, I get the shape and style I want and customers are pleased with the new more fitted block that I developed during the summer”.
Our modern bespoke process;
• Appointment made.
• Consultation with tailor and stylist to establish design, style and measurements.
• First fitting
• Second fitting (where necessary)
Our turnaround time for modern bespoke is 8 weeks, although express services are available on request.
Men’s prices start from £690 for a two piece suit and £170 for a waistcoat.
Women’s prices start from £550 for a two piece suit and £170 for a waistcoat.
Traditional Bespoke
These suits are hand crafted with a hand stitched and hand cut method of tailoring using very traditional methods such as a loose canvas (no iron downed fusing), hand sewn linings and handmade buttonholes. This service will give you any style of suit that you want. Working with our stylist any design of garment can be produced.
After the initial consultation, the suit is half made up to make sure it complements the wearer. A few fittings are often required to obtain a good paper pattern. This is kept to ease the process on any future suits.
Hand sewn jackets look better in an almost indescribable way, moving as if they are part of the wearer, giving you a jacket that has life. Gresham says, “This is a souperior suit. I keep mine for special occasions and treat them with great care, reminding myself of the skill involved ineven the smallest detail. This is well paid highly skilled work and good examples are only found in English workshops”.
Our traditional bespoke process;
• Appointment made.
• Consultation with tailor and stylist to establish design, style and measurements.
• Try on fitting (half made up stage)
• Secondary fitting
• Final fitting
Our turnaround time for traditional bespoke is 8-10 weeks although express services are available on request.
Men’s prices start from £1500 for a two piece suit and £300 for a waistcoat.
Women’s prices start from £865 for a two piece, £305 for a waistcoat and £850 for a corseted dress.
Special Order
Our stylist will guide you to find a suit that fits the best from our off the peg range then order your size in what ever fabric and style you want.
Gresham says, "This is great for people who want a specific fabric. It’s a popular choice with wedding parties and corporate wear clients as buying three of these suits gets you a fourth suit free. Also perfect for any individual wanting a new wardrobe”.
Our special order process;
• Visit the shop
• Discussion with in store consultant to establish size, cloth and requirements.
• Fitting
Our turnaround time for special order is 8 weeks although express services are available on request.
Men’s and women’s prices start from £550 for a two piece suit and £130 for a waistcoat.
Bespoke Shirts
We have hundreds of fabrics to choose from, or you can have your own design printed. With a range of styles, collar and cuff details on offer, this service also includes a fitting.
Our bespoke shirt process;
• Appointment made or visit shop
• Consultation to establish design, style and measurements
• Fitting
Our turnaround time for a bespoke shirt is 4-6 weeks although express services are available on request.
Prices start from £150.
Bespoke Ties/Cravats
We can make up ties and cravats in any design and colour to suit your individual requirements. The versatility this service provides makes it a popular option with wedding parties and corporate clients.
Turnaround times and prices vary depending on fabric, style and detailing and are available on request.
Fabrics
We only use the best cloths from British mills. We also weave our own in house fabrics which are not available anywhere else. We carry extensive ranges of city tweeds and Mohair’s from the most exclusive mills including Dormeuil and Scabal.
We often source fabrics for people if they are not readily available and have made suits out of everything imaginable, from tea-towels and national flags to canvas and rubber. We can also print onto fabric for a totally unique look.
Gresham says, “We did a suit for DJ Carl Cox once with his name woven through the fabric and solid gold buttons with embedded diamonds. The aim was to out bling P Diddy at a red carpet event and it did! I had another suit made up with our web site name woven through it, when I was on a USA selling trip, “Gee, does that say greshamblake.com” they absolutely loved it.”
Linings
We have thousands of linings in stripes, silks, jacquards and plains. Gresham says, “If you have a special lining in mind we can print it for you, we have done every thing from company logos to song lyrics to fire engines and kitchen knives. My favourite one was a guy who had photos of his fiancé printed for their wedding day”.
Styles and Details
These are just a few example of what is available in terms of the styling options we offer. You will be guided through all the available options by our tailoring consultants during your consultation, so don’t be overwhelmed.
Jackets and Suit Jackets
1, 2, 3 or 4 buttons on jacket fronts
As many real cuff holes as you wish
Slanted or straight pockets
Colored melton (cloth under the top collar)
Storm collars
Single or side vents
Flash cuffs
Colored stitching
Colored jetting and piping
Inside pocket options
Morning coats
Tailcoats
Trousers and Suit Trousers
1,2 or 3 pleats
Flat fronts
Slant pockets
Straight pockets
Cross pockets
Turn-ups
Vented bottoms
Back pockets
Pocket flaps
Colored jetting
Contract stitching
Plus fours
Coats and Over Jackets
Trench coats
Frock coats
Covert coats
Crombie style
Double breasted
Full collars
Shooting jackets
Morning coats
Tailcoats
Waistcoats
Double breasted
Single breasted
Lapels
Contrasting Watch wholes
Jetted pockets
Welt pockets
The Gresham Blake Ethos
We are a design led business with over ten years experience, using very traditional skills and modern techniques. We focus very much on service and listen to our client’s needs, getting us much input from them as possible to give them a suit that feels very personal to them in fit, finish and style.
All our tailoring consultants have fashion degrees, or have worked in fashion throughout their careers, and all share a passion for giving our clients exactly what they want. Gresham says, “I have no room for hard selling, we enjoy what we do and this will be a relaxed, enjoyable and professional experience”.
The Team
Gresham Blake – Owner / Director
Fal Blake – Owner / Director
Ryan Lovatt – Managing Director / Head of Tailoring
Ryan studied fashion and textiles with business at Brighton University. After graduating he joined Gresham Blake on a full time apprenticeship. Since then he has worked his way up through the company to become Head of Tailoring then a Managing Director.
Jay Andrews – Head Tailoring Consultant
Jay has many years experience working within the retail menswear sector. Starting out at Agnes B in London, he then went on to launch the ‘Armani Collezioni’ at Hoopers Department Store in Tonbridge Wells, which he ran for two years before joining Gresham Blake in the summer of 2011.
Alice Hassel – Head of Women’s Bespoke/Tailoring Consultant
Alice graduated with a Masters in Fashion Design from the University of Brighton. She trained in pattern cutting and garment construction at Alexander McQueen and other well known London fashion houses. She joined the Gresham Blake team in June 2011.
Jack Hill – Tailoring Consultant
Jack has worked at Gresham Blake in a variety of roles since leaving school five years ago. He started as a member of our part time weekend staff and has progressed to become a tailoring consultant.
Nissa Naik – Tailoring Consultant/Press Loans Co-ordinator
Having started out as a part time member of staff, supporting herself through her final year of her Media degree, Nissa joined the team full time after graduating from the University of Sussex last summer.
Sally Glover – PA to Gresham Blake
Sally has been working at Gresham Blake in a variety of roles since 2008. She has done almost every job in the company, becoming Gresham’s PA at the end of 2010. She is currently on maternity leave.
Clare Ducas – Production co-ordinator/PA to Gresham Blake
With a wealth of experience in admin and PA roles within Media Production, Clare joined our customer services team in October 2010. She has since moved on to manage all Contemporary Bespoke Production and is covering the role of Gresham’s PA while Sally is on maternity leave.
Ellie Fer – Production Co-ordinator
Ellie oversees the production of all stock, wholesale & corporate orders. She has a BA degree in Fashion from Leeds University.
Polly Dale-Harris – Customer Services
Polly deals with all our client queries, coming from an administration and customer service background. Originally from Gloucestershire, Polly moved to Brighton in 2008.
Chrissey Sullivan – Digital Media Manager
Chrissey studied design at Chelsea College of Art in London. After graduating she worked for a range of high end Design Companies in Shoreditch & Primrose Hill, before moving down to Brighton and joining the team in 2009. She is responsible for our website, e-marketing, social media and PR liaison.