Camelhair Fabric

[Guest]

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.

[Guest]

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.

[Guest]

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

[Guest]

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..

[Guest]

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.

[Guest]

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

[Guest]

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

Do they sell retail?

Address?

TIA

[Guest]

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.