Norton and Townsend
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Norton & Townsend are tailors covering the Manchester area with over 25 years’ experience in making quality hand-finished bespoke menswear. We aim to make it as straightforward as possible to enjoy the superb fit and luxurious feel that comes with bespoke tailoring. Our skilled tailors will measure you and deliver your tailor made formal, wedding or casual suit direct to your door.
Although Manchester is widely known for its world-famous football teams, first-class universities and dynamic music and culture scene, the city also boasts a long history and illustrious history as the birthplace of the industrial revolution. Often referred to as ‘Cottonopolis’, Manchester became the spiritual home of the UK’s textile industry, with clothing and fabrics made in the city being exported across the globe.
Manchester still holds a special place in the heart of creatives and entrepreneurs and is currently enjoying a resurgence as something of a fashion hub. Tailors in Manchester are enjoying well-earned recognition and are using their pride in the quality and provenance of their clothing to ensure the city continues maintain its status at the forefront of British style.
Manchester’s long history of textile weaving was established in 1363 by Flemish weavers. The production of linen and wool had become important to Manchester by the time the Elizabethan era came around. However, it wasn’t until the mid-1700s and the manufacture of pure cotton fabrics that the Manchester really started to become important. At this time, the production of fabric relied upon home-based, domestic workers such as spinners, weavers and cutters etc.
It was the invention of the Fly Shuttle in 1733 which propelled Manchester’s fledgling textile industry into a global phenomenon. Other technological developments mushroomed including the Spinning Jenny, Spinning Mule, Water Frame and Crompton. When combined with improvements to the road structure and communications, plus the arrival of heap coal and the opening of the Bridgewater Canal, the city’s textile industry underwent a staggering transformation.
Manchester’s textile industry reached it’s peak around 1914 with imports of raw cotton rising to a staggering 1 billion tonnes. However, the city had become reliant on a raw material sourced from the United States, India and Egypt. As production increased in countries closer to cotton farming, textile manufacturing in Manchester began to decline, with the last cotton mills closing in the 1980s.
Happily, today the picture is looking much rosier and Manchester is once again at the forefront of tailoring in the North of England. The city’s focus is once again on fashion and although there has been a decline in department store shopping, Manchester is home to independent, e-commerce tailoring businesses.
Here at Norton & Townsend we are team of highly skilled tailors in Manchester, providing hand-finished bespoke suits, wedding attire and menswear. It is our aim to make ordering bespoke garments as simple and straightforward as possible. We’ll visit you at your home or office, which ever is most convenient for you. Then, once your tailor made garments direct to your door.
Regardless of whether you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime suit to wear at your wedding, or something sharp for the office, we’ll use our expertise to design, cut, make and fit a bespoke suit from superb quality cloth.
Choosing a made-to-measure suit instead of off-the-peg is the only way to ensure a perfect fit. Every suit we make is unique as it is cut to fit your precise measurements, whilst also complementing your posture and enhancing your gait.
The process begins with a consultation appointment and our tailors are available throughout Manchester, providing convenient services at flexible times. We’ll begin by talking through your style preferences; you might already know exactly what you’re looking for but don’t worry if not as your tailor will be on hand to provide advice and guidance if required.
One of the great pleasures of bespoke tailoring is being able to make your own choice of fabric, lining, style details and trim. We’re proud to be able to offer our clients a choice of more than 5000 high quality fabrics, with options to suit all tastes and requirements, from pure wools including cashmere, through to luxury blends and many more. If we don’t have exactly what you had in mind, we’ll work hard to try to source the perfect fabric for you.
‘Going bespoke’ offers the perfect opportunity for put your own personal style stamp on a garment and you’ll find that we have the expertise to make everything from wedding suits and formal attire, through to tuxedos, lounge suits, over coats, jackets, waistcoats, shirts and more. Don’t forget that once you’ve chosen your style the chance to personalise it doesn’t stop there as you’ll also be able to add personal style touches, such lapel or pocket design, buttons, jacket vents and trouser hems, for example.
If you’ve never bought a made-to-measure suit before, we know that the process can seem a little intimidating. After all, even choosing a new suit to wear to the office can seem like a minefield at times! Rest assured that our tailors in Manchester have many years of experience in helping our clients choose the perfect suit and we’ll guide you through the process, helping you select a garment you’ll love wearing for many years to come.
Our tailoring services cover the UK including the entire Greater Manchester area. We have regional offices in Manchester, London, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol in Cardiff. We’re happy to visit you in at the office or in the comfort of your own home, whichever works best for you. Alternatively, we also offer consultation appointments at our small stores which are located in Ilkley, West Yorkshire and central London.
