The London Lounge

My next commission will be a camel hair overcoat. Which fabric books should I look at? I have seen the H&S. Any comments re. camel hair vs. cashmere? Thank you.

The Harrisons overcoating bunch has some 20 oz camelhairs that are very nice. I'd rather have cashmere for most overcoats, except for a polo coat or something similarly casual.

I agreed: last july I bought Harrison's camelhair and it's first quality.

My only caveat is that camelhair is not the strongest of cloths. I have had my overcoat for about 5-6 years, and I am noticing wear at the cuffs.

Therefore, unless you're going to wear the coat only 4 times a year do not expect to get 10+ years of use.

However, it's a beautiful cloth. I just had a sportscoat made in Loro Piana camelhair. My own personal view of clothing is that clothes are not forever and that one should enjoy the full variety of seasonal cloths..

I have just finished making a fine camel hair overcoating from W.Bill. The quaility of this fabric is first class and it works really well for a heavy fabric.

Is camelhair the type of fabric that the heavier it is the better? Does it work better in certain weight ranges?

Is W. Bill a distributor or a maker of cloth?

Do they sell retail?

Address?

TIA

Camel hair works best from 14oz up and I may add that a casual jacket made in this weight is a joy to wear in autumn/winter. For overcoating it gives a soft look and can give a slightly deconstructed oveall look to the garment.

W.Bill are indeed a cloth merchant and have been for some 150 year!! W.Bill are note for there extensive ranges of tweeds as well.On a note on cloth supplies I think you will find most of the big names in the trade who once produced now only buy in cloth's from outside mills. It is a shame but it is a fact of modern life.