Walker Slater clothing — Edinburgh & London

[Creeping Past]

I've just come across these people, who seem to be a more trad version of Old Town.

No prices on the website, just photos and interior/exterior shots of their two shops. Bodes ill for pricing...

Anyone tried their clothing?

 

[BellyTank]

Rings a bell...

Aahhh... toward the bottom of Fulham Rd.- close to Mr. Saxby's establishments. Might have seen them before...

Although... their Careless Elegance may well be too Careless for me.


B
T

 

[benstephens]

I have used them. I had a pair of Flannels made in their Edinburgh shop. The trousers were the wrong size, the leg too short and they told me (and in my naivety I believed them) that they could not get West of England Cloth. They talked a very good product, but I was personally not happy, had to send them back once to be corrected, but they were never quite right. They ended up putting a false turnup on them as they were short. I have never really worn them at all.

Kindest regards

Ben

 

[WalkerSlater]

Greetings From WS

Hello there Ben, just a quick note to you.
We saw your comment about the Flannel trousers. We do have "West of England " cloth now but it is in the form of a soft lightweight tweed. Made in Delph, an area in Oldham Lancashire. This is about as West of England as we can get now!

I do apologise for the Flannels, we have looked through our records but do not seem to be able to find your records, Our records go back over 10 years. If you could let us know when they were finished this would help. I would be happy to send you a voucher for you to spend with us at your leisure. I hate to think people are not satisfied with the clothes we make.

The thing which interested me is "West of England" cloth, I have spoken with
the oldest most experienced member of our staff who has 38yrs experience
in the trade and he is flummoxed! Do you mean Reid and Taylor cloth, they have a very definate look and were/are based north of Carlilse?

Pleased we talked a good talk at least!
Look forward to hearing from you
Kind Regards Daniel

 

[benstephens]

The date would have been just before New Year either 2004 or maybe 2005, sorry I can not remember which, I think they were delivered around March time. We looked through various books, you had some pictures of Fred Astaire in one of your books we used to get the reference.

The Flannel I was looking for was this type of thing.

http://www.worldofelegance.com/AW07/AW07.php?view=517

The West of england Cloth was used by a lot of trouser makers, it is a specific process which gives the look we are looking for, as it was regarded as some of the best Flannel availiable. It is much harder to get now but my Tailor in Piccadilly had it, and it is very nice. I am a layman, but when I went into the tailor on Piccadilly they knew what I meant. I had trousers made in a very heavy weight flannel, I think 14oz, or whatever that is in modern terminology.

These are the trousrs I had made in London

This is taken from this website http://histclo.com/mat/fab/flan/mat-flan.html

"Chronology
The term appears in the English language sometime in the early 14th century as flaunneol. The wool trade was an important part of the medieval European economy. England in medieval Europe because of its lush pastures and climate was known as sourcecof wool. Much of the wealth of the country came from exporting raw wool to the Continent, especially Flemish towns where weaving industries developed. One of the centers of the wool industry was the Cotswolds in southwest England. Symbolic of this the the Lord Chancellor presides over Parliament sitting on a wool-sack symbolizing the importance of wool in English history. Gradually England devoped its own weaving industry. Production was primarily high quality broadcloth made from fine woollen-spun yarns. These west of England cloths ranged from en flannel to cavalry twill. Despite the differences, they share the same soft, sleek handle and wonderful drape. This was quite different from the more loosely-woven 'hairy' Northern tweeds and flat worsted cloths. Flannel became a popular material for men's blazers and trousers in the late 19th Century. Flannel might be called the most popular fabric of the early 20th century. British school boys by the 1920s commonly dressed in flannel blazers and short pants. American boys would commonly have a blue blazer and grey slacks in there wardobe in the 1950s, younger boys might wear shorts instead of long pants with their blue blazers. Flannel trousers and shorts declined in popularity in the 1950s as polyester belends that did not require ironing to keep a crease became increasingly popular. They have not, however, completely disappeared."

As I said, I also sent them back. You were very helpfull, but the leg length was wrong, and they came back with a false turn up on, and were never really long enough.

I may still have the receipt for them, I will have to have a look. I am sorry for the bad review, but I do stand by it. We are a strange bunch of eclectic people looking at buying clothes that are out of the mainstream fashion, retrocentrics I believe some call us. I will say, that your other clothes are very good, you have a nice range of country clothing. However, I gave a review in regard to the product I was buying, and one other people on this lounge are interested in.

Kindest Regards

Ben

 

[scotrace]

These are rather perfect, aren't they?

 

[benstephens]

Yes, they are lovely. Three pairs in very heavy wool flannel. I wear them all the time. The brown fleck flannel is lovely as well.

Kindest Regards

Ben

 

[Creeping Past]

Yes, they are lovely. Three pairs in very heavy wool flannel. I wear them all the time. The brown fleck flannel is lovely as well.

Kindest Regards

Ben

Nice choices. May I ask which fabrics and where did you have them made?

 

[benstephens]

Here is a thread on them

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=15898

They look a little long here, but I normally wear them with braces, which makes them just right.

Kindest Regards

Ben

 

[Creeping Past]

The Irish Walker Slater?

Thanks, Ben.

In a slight diversion, the people at Studio Donegal have come up with a sort of boho Celtic take on the outdoors that's not a million miles from Walker Slater.

I like the Studio Donegal stuff a lot, especially the cardigan jacket, the 5-button jacket and their heavy overcoat.

There's a sense that SD is a kind of lower-key Hampstead Bazaar for men, but without the accompanying sense that the people who wear the garments are so awfully pleased with themselves.

Yup, totally off-topic. But interesting, perhaps...