2019 shirtmaker recommendations.

[Wasser50]

My experience at Emma Willis was dreadful rude service bad fitting and make is nearer off the shelf Lewins rather than bespoke.

I’ve used -

Wil Whiting great fit and excellent make but if you want the dogs very expensive
Turnbull great fit great service and make is good
100 being the best I’ve experienced so far overall the best
The made to measure from Lora Piana is as good as any others I’ve had but guess I just fit the pattern
I used to use Dege but they were so slow I gave up
Whitcomb is best I’ve tried for value

[davidhuh]

Interesting. My guy is Mr Butcher. Not life-changing, but he has arrived at a very reliably good pattern. If MacAuslan jumps, please let the rest of us know.

Same here, Mr. Butcher is my cutter. He must have made something like 150 shirts for me. He is happy to see me as long as I don't want stripes. There has never been an issue - therefore no reason to change. Mr MacAuslan is a a very nice young man and I could well imagine working with him should Mr. Butcher retire.

Cheers, David

[Screaminmarlon]

He is happy to see me as long as I don't want stripes. ...
Cheers, David

Really?
I love solids and plains but a life without bastoncino would be a hard proposition for an italian guy

[Concordia]

Yet another reason to have more than one maker on the bench.

[whyescalar]

Hi, sorry my recommendation isn't in Europe, however since Mr. Alden does have a very global readership, here goes: Charles Nakhle. Mr. Nakhle is in a western suburb of Sydney, NSW. I used him for the three years we resided in Sydney, and really couldn't be happier. Can make french cuffs, button cuffs, french-front, more ordinary, short or long-whatever the client wants. He is Lebanese, however acclimatized to Australian no-fuss culture quite well. More expensive than HK shirtmakers like Ascot Chang, however cheaper than London-based ones.

[davidhuh]

He is happy to see me as long as I don't want stripes. ...
Cheers, David

Really?
I love solids and plains but a life without bastoncino would be a hard proposition for an italian guy

Screaming, the reason is that I want the arms matching the shoulder - which gives him extra work. He does it, of course. I just know to read his facial expression

Cheers, David

[Concordia]

That is where 100Hands shines. Not only the workmanship, but the fact that you can't see the expressions of the workmen (or women).

[Screaminmarlon]

[Scot]

I have been a contented Dege customer for many years. Robert Whittaker made a great pattern for me. Unfortunately he has now retired but his protege Tom has taken the helm and seems extremely competent, and very pleasant.

[DavidS]

...

[Concordia]

Interesting. I tried Lachter, but ended up with shirts that never quite fit or have flattering collars. And I didn't enjoy his company enough to try to fix the problem.

As for Whittaker at Dege, he was renowned as the best going and I dealt with him for quite some time. I moved away (a) when he got behind in his work. I would meet him on tour and ask for a small tweak, and by the time he got to things two months later, the note had been lost. I heard chatter around then that he had a multi-thousand order from the Sultan of Somewhere, that was absorbing his attention.

Also (b) he refused to make a taller collar, which made his shirts useless with A&S suits cut by John Hitchcock.

A shame, really, as he was probably the only shirtmaker whose pattern flattered my torso as a tailored garment would. No idea how or why.

[culverwood]

I use Sean O'Flynn and have so far been pleased with the shirts he has made for me.

[Jimmy9lives]

I am trying Fralbo napoli and camiceria piccolo as well this week. The fralbo shirt I had fitted at Caraceni Rome and the piccolo internet fittings.

[Jimmy9lives]

Has anyone tried The famed Battistoni in Rome?

[Concordia]

BTW, an argument for having some depth in your lineup comes from HK this last week. Not that I need to be in touch personally right now, but I can imagine some serious dislocation happening to the real economy down there in the future. Let's hope not. An excellent option for CMT.