GOLD SHINES IN NEW SUITINGS

All that glisters may not be gold but the glistening quality in certain Scabal suitings is indeed the real stuff. And with gold fever much in the news it was to be expected that there might be something of a gold rush on Scabal’s fabrics with a 24 carat content.

Scabal first introduced such golden material in 1999 but has now launched a new Treasure Box collection that uses an ultra fine Super 150’s wool in which precious metals are incorporated.

The Box collection offers 15 high-quality fabrics between 230 and 300 grams,
seven in the 'Gold Treasure' 22-carat collection, three with platinum, two 24-carat gold designs and three fabrics with both platinum and 24-carat gold designs. The designs are in-house originals, all made in England.

As one would expect from a company that supplies the top Savile Row tailors, most of these designs are classic with discreet sheen, but there are those that reveal there is gold in them there threads. Supplies are limited, so those eager to invest in this form of gilt should contact their tailor pronto.

The sheen trend is seen in other new Scabal cloths for this Spring/Summer, achieved via lustrous silk and wool blends, as well as glowing 180s cashmeres that are available in a range of light colours.

Shining example, above, of the lustrous look for this Spring/Summer, in one of Scabal's own suits. Blazer on the left comes in a light blue pinstripe. They have launched a three-button s.b. jacket that looks like a two-button - the top one is concealed beneath the roll of the lapel. Trousers are slim.

BUNCHES OF SUCCESS ONLINE

Those bunches of cloths that tailors offer, giving a rich variety of suiting designs from which the usual customer will select a nice safe navy worsted, are mainly supplied by cloth merchants. They represent the middle man between customer and mill, carrying a wide selection of fabrics from all the main British producers - and some others.

One of these merchants, Dugdale Brothers of Huddersfield, which has been established since 1836, is now offering an online service, which is proving a success with tailors and may also prove popular with consumers.

Huddersfield Cloth is the name of this new division, launched at the end of last year, It carries cloth from such top mills as Taylor & Lodge, Joseph Hirst, Duffin & Peace, Thomas Fisher and Dugdales themselves, and gives 24hour service to clients all over the world.

Consumers as well as tailors and other professional may access the site - though separate sectors of it - and orders are dispatched in usually under 3 days. Go to www.huddersfieldcloth.com