(Disclaimer: This post is totally unpolitical in any way.)
One of my many hobbies is following the fashion business, particularly men's businesswear. I saw this today on a blog I frequent, maintained by one of Savile Row's best bespoke tailors, Tom Mahon, and thought it was fascinating. If you thought professions like medicine and the law have a long "pay your dues" period, try being a tailor! Mr. Mahon's criteria:
1. You would need to be young enough so that, when it comes time for me to retire, you would still have a good career still in front of you, with enough time to train your own apprentice. 2. You must be able to work legally in the United Kingdom.
3. You must be willing to live within commuting distance from Warwick Hall, Cumbria, where I have my main offices.
4. You must be willing to go through the same rigorous, politically incorrect, old-school training that I went through with Mr Halberry and others, until you are ready [It takes about 5 years of torment before the tailor will let you near a customer].
5. You must be of the right temperament. A tailor's apprenticeship is certainly not for everybody. That being said, I don't care where you're from or what your background is, so long as you have the right attitude and can provide good references.
I do hope he gets some good applicants. It's a noble profession, and Mahon is to be commended for doing his part to ensure that London's custom-made suit tradition lives on. I think there was some concern in recent years that it was dying or would die, but the renewed interest in high-end men's wear will -- I hope -- ensure it continues.
