On the main street in Wigton is a business that is quietly making a name for Cumberland all over the world.
In suits worn to work, weddings and even coronations, a little piece of the county can be seen discretely sewn inside.
Redmayne 1860 is a well established name in the world of high class tailoring.
For Tom Mahon, head cutter, the brand is a way of life and his expertise has now been recognised – this week he gained the title Master Tailor from the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors est 1327.
“Way back in the 80s I came here for a summer job on a Youth Training Scheme and thought this is a really special environment,” Tom told Business Crack, showing me around the panelled reception area where customers are treated more like guests arriving at a hotel than clients.
Tom seemed destined to join the industry. When he told his family news of his decision to become an apprentice an aunt presented him with a pair of cutting shears which were already in his family’s possession, an heirloom waiting to find a new home.
Forty years on they are still pride of place in the workspace he’s made his own.
The company once had its own factory in Wigton and employed over 200 staff.
Times and fashion trends change and while suit wearers are no longer as popular as they were and the number of tailors has declined too, those that remain are still making their mark.
After his apprenticeship Tom was drawn to London and joined Anderson and Sheppard on Savile Row.
The likes of Cary Grant, Fred Astaire and other Hollywood greats took their trade there.
Tom’s clients included the future king.
“I cut for him when he was the Prince of Wales and people say ‘I’ve met Prince Charles’ but not many can say they’ve met him in his underwear!” Tom said.
As a 26-year-old, he was one of the youngest tailors on Savile Row and speaks fondly of meeting Princes William and Harry at Highgrove.
But Cumbria is Tom’s home and the lure of the lakes was too strong.
He returned to Wigton and with wife Claire now runs Redmayne as a thriving business.
Recently back from a sales tour to Chicago and Toronto, the firm do occasionally have to close their books such is demand.
Molly Haney is an apprentice coat maker at Redmayne and joined four years ago.
Her grandfather worked at the former factory so tailoring is very much runs in the family.
“To be always busy and always learning is ideal for me,” Molly said. “Redmayne is very well known yet not everybody knows what goes on in here.
“It’s nice that some of the customers do come here and when they do they’re blown away with the area and this little building.”
Under-cutter William Nixon ‘strikes out’ the cloth to mark out suits and keeps the diary up to date, cloths, button and trimmings are all in stock.
Cutting patterns is his next role although is already working with his own clients. Even without meeting clients the company’s remote suit service is proving popular. Especially useful when the suit will be worn on the other side of the world, the logistical and planning side keeps William busy.
“It’s a fantastic career to be in,” William said. “It’s when suits come back after they’ve been loved. They can last for 20 years and we make sure they’re ideal to last at least that length of time.”
The labyrinthine building includes a boardroom containing pictures of famous former clients – William Whitelaw, Douglas Bader and Melvyn Bragg to name a few.
At the top of the property, keeping an eye on social media as well as more traditional marketing, is managing director Claire Mahon.
With three school-age sons, life is busy, but the fashion graduate is happy working in a business were attention to detail really counts.
“Really excited about suits and we can get excited about a host of ideas about how we can grow the company,” Claire said. So will the company itself need to ‘let out’ and move. “I’m really proud of Cumbria and we’ve been part of the town for generations.
“I think social media has given us a whole new lease of life it means we can look to grow and expand.”
Tom’s title as master tailor comes as they prepare to visit the US again to highlight the kind of craftsmanship that’s still in demand.
Redmayne is then set to remain an important part of the fabric of the county’s business world.
