BESPOKE TAILORING
PETER JOHNSTON is synonymous with understated, effortless elegance. Peter has created a unique cut – simple yet classic, traditional British bespoke tailoring with a modern sensibility. We create a silhouette that is well balanced and in proportion. Eschewing bold logos and unnecessary aesthetics, Peter’s tailoring is defined by four key principles: the finest quality materials; first-rate craftsmanship; contemporary functionality; and timeless design.
We offer our customers the full range of bespoke suits, jackets, vests, overcoats, trousers, dinner suits, smoking jackets, dress coats, morning coats and highland dress. Every customer has his own paper pattern created from individual measurements and personalised figuration notes. Our aim is to create the highest quality tailored garments, and to achieve the perfect fit our cutters and tailors need to shape the pattern, and craft the natural wool and linen canvas and cloth with great care and skill. Everything is done by hand: we nip and tuck to accentuate to positive; we hand-pad the lapel to create a soft roll from the collar to the first button; we shape the collar canvas to the client’s neck; we craft the chest canvas with thousands of hand sewn stitches; we attach the sleeve to the armhole by hand; and we meticulously hand sew button holes.
For new customers the process will take around three months from start to finish. You will usually have four appointments, with refinements made at each stage before the finished garments are delivered. We use the first appointment to gain an understanding of your needs and personal style in order to make the appropriate styling and cloth decisions. We will take your measurements and note your ‘personal figuration’ (how you stand, for example), from which your personalised paper pattern will be drafted.
There will then follow a series of fitting appointments. At the first, you will see a ‘skeleton’ – a loosely stitched hand padded canvas without pockets and a minimum of interior construction which allows us to check the fit of the personalised pattern. At the second, you will be able to see the major body construction of suit including pockets and request refinements and alterations. At the third, you will be able to collect your finished tailoring.
Bespoke tailoring service is by appointment. If you would like further information or to make an appointment to purchase, please contact us here or telephone +44 131 225 4318.
The tailoring process in more detail:
The process starts with a simple conversation. Peter will take a little time to learn more about each customer – the tailoring they want, their personal style and so on. He will then take all the necessary measurements and the process will start in earnest. That first appointment will be followed by three or more further fitting and collection appointments at our townhouse location in the heart of Edinburgh.
INITIAL DISCUSSION
The initial appointment is an opportunity for clients to discuss their tailoring requirements and make styling and cloth decisions. Measurements will be taken and personal figuration noted from which a personalised paper pattern will be drafted. With each new order a fifty per cent deposit is required.
PAPER PATTERN AND CLOTH CUTTING
Once the personalised pattern has been made, it is then laid onto the selected cloth length, chalked around and the tailoring is cut by hand, paying particular attention to match checks or stripes.
FIRST FITTING
After each garment has been cut, the client will be invited to a further appointment so that we start the fitting process. At this stage, the hand padded canvas (known as the ‘skeleton’) will be in place and the garments will be ‘basted’ – loosely stitched with a minimum of interior construction and without pockets. This appointment is to check the basic fit of the pattern, and to allow Peter to refine the balance and proportion of the garment. Any alterations required to the pattern and tailoring will be noted and any re-cutting required will be instructed.
SECOND FITTING
The second fitting appointment will give the client a much better idea of how the tailoring will finally look. Any alterations from the first fitting will be checked and refined by Peter and the tailoring will now have its major body construction, including pockets and any other details.
HAND FINISHING
Once any final alterations are complete the buttonholes will be hand made and hand finished.
FINISHED TAILORING
The final appointment to collect the finished tailoring is normally ten to twelve weeks after the initial discussion.
Bespoke tailoring service is ‘by appointment’. If you would like further information or to make an appointment to purchase please contact us here or telephone +44 131 225 4318.