If you call yourself a ‘City Slicker’, we probably don’t have to tell you that Norton & Townsend is the name for tailoring affordable made to measure men’s suits. After all, the company has been around for 20 years, and, since Messrs Norton & Townsend first founded it, has earned itself an international, as well as national, reputation par excellence. One of the reasons why is it was one of the first companies to offer a visiting tailoring service, not only in the Capital, but throughout the UK. Its sales team all have hands-on tailoring experience, so they really do know what they’re talking about.

Now suiting the ladies too
This year the Company has launched a suit tailoring service for ladies - at present only available in London, but it is hoped will spread throughout the country in time. “Figure shape is much more diverse for women than men so creating the pattern is indeed more difficult, says Graham Hall, head of Norton’s sales team, which is why Norton & Townsend will only provide trouser or skirt suits for women, not dresses.” Female high flyers take note: Women’s suits start at £560.

Desk-side service and accurate design
Norton & Townsend actually do manufacturing, with a fully equipped design department, Graham explains. “We’re more design linked than most tailors because we concentrate on pattern development,” he says. “We’re able to give each customer a very individual look without it costing a fortune, and customers can utilise this personal service in their own office.” Generally there will be three consultations. “The first appointment will be for discussing the design and measuring,” Graham tells us, “but yes, the client’s personality does come into it. The second meeting is showing more or less the finished product because as we know how our pattern works, we can do a very very accurate measurement in one hit. The third meeting would be just to ‘fine tune’ if necessary. On average there’s a six week span between first and third appointments, and depending upon fabric, costs run between £550 and just under £1,000.”

Cloth makes a difference
Most of the clients seek suits for office wear and choose British fabrics, whether in light or heavy weights, but as Graham assures: “We have access to the finest cloths in the world.” He admits that Savile Row tailors who charge triple the prices are unmatched because they use lots and lots of tiny hand stitches in the construction whereas Norton & Townsend’s canvases are attached differently, but he insists: “Ours are actually more durable as well as affordable.” Not surprisingly, Graham has noticed differences since he first started in tailoring, and now. He says: “The main difference is in the weight of fabric because of ‘memory’. When I first started out, the lighter weight cloths weren’t constructed with ‘memory’ for a bespoke finish. Now the technical side is much better. The twist and finish of the fabric these days is a million times better than 20 years ago so that a tailor can get a great finish without compromise.” THAT REALLY SUITS YOU!

Tailoring in style
Style, of course, has changed too. “Rather than the power shouldered look of the 80’s, we’re now looking at a much slimmer line suit. The tailored look is again in.” If you’ve never sampled made to measure tailoring before, you don’t know what you’ve missed, and if you have, you’ll realise that Norton & Townsend are offering something very special. For a consultation, call them on 020 7929 5662, or visit the website at: www.nortonandtownsend.co.uk
111 Cannon Street
London EC4N 5AR
Tel: 020 7929 5662
www.nortonandtownsend.co.uk