Member Article

Yorkshire textile mill collaborates with Saville Row tailor behind Madonna and Johnny Depp

Yorkshire textile mill Hainsworth has collaborated with British menswear designer and Saville Row bespoke tailor Lee Marsh.

The 230-year-old Yorkshire mill has worked with a number of high fashion designers, with fans of their fabrics including Christopher Raeburn, Jenny Schwarz, Jackie Lee, A Sauvage and Baartmans & Siegel.

At the recent London Collections: Men, organised by the British Fashion Council, Hainsworth fabrics had a presence in the shows on most days.

Marsh, whose clients include Prince William, Prince Harry, Colin Firth, Johnny Depp, Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow, was inspired by the mill’s contemporary fabrics.

His new - and first - ready-to-wear collection features a capsule collection of garments that can all be mixed and matched.

Lee began his career as a tailor 18 years ago after attending London School of Fashion and has worked for some of the finest names in the business – including Henry Poole, Gieves & Hawkes and Huntsman.

He says: “I fell in love with Hainsworth’s fabrics when I was working for Gieves & Hawkes so I’m delighted to be collaborating with them myself for the first time. Their heritage and history closely matches the history of a Saville Row suit.

“Until now I’d only ever used their Grey Melange Melton as an under-collar suit fabric but I had this great idea to use it to make a whole suit. It’s such a soft and moveable fabric that it’s perfect used this way. It’s also a warm fabric so it’s just right for winter wear.

“What I also love about the fabric is that it’s so clean and wrinkle-resistant you can literally pack it in your suitcase and any creases will drop out as soon as it’s hung up – perfect for anyone travelling.”

The collection is due to launch in store and online in September 2015.

Hainsworth MD Tom Hainsworth said: “We met Lee at the London Textile Forum in October and he made quite an impression as he was wearing a bright blue jacket which was very similar to our Bright Blue Melton fabric.

“He is a great match for us with his fantastic training and experience as a tailor and Saville Row pedigree now behind his own label and collection.

“And we love the way Lee has used our Grey Collar Melton and turned it into a full suit rather than the way it is traditionally used under a collar.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .