chiltern street -

The Giving of Gifts

There is a certain currency that appears at Christmas, the circulatory gift. We all know the ones, stashed in the present cupboard; received from one aunt and wrapped with a little gilt for another.

Now is the time to break this cycle before you’re found out or haunted by the ghost of Christmas present.

Yes, the ideal gift for your aunts, uncles, cousins and family can be found here at Dashing Tweeds. We have something for everyone, from reflective tweed greyhound collars to wool tablet cases.

You can be rest assured about the sustainability of our products. Wool is one of the most sustainable fibres and all our fabrics are woven in Great Britain. They will last for many many years but when they are finally no longer needed, wool biodegrades, leaving nothing but good memories.

Jumpers are a staple on the Christmas list but the novelty ones are often made from acrylic and not that great for the environment. Our pure wool Donegal jumpers are beautifully soft and textured giving a lift to any outfit.

Holly has used her design skills from Check Me Out to weave a beautiful range of lambswool scarves. They feature exciting large scale checks that will bring colour to everyones lives. The scarves are woven as part of a long tasselled blanket and we have saved some before they are cut into scarves should you wish for a lovely rug over six by four feet in size.

Tweed caps are one of our best sellers at this time of year. Ours are all hand made in Yorkshire by traditional milliners. The flat caps, in our modern tweed designs and available in a range of classic and modern shapes.

As well as tweed things we are also helping out friends who have interesting brands, stocking their products in store. Shaun Gordon’s ties are exquisitely made and his range of colours is superlative.

Involute Industries is a new niche company specialising in high tolerance engineered cufflinks, you may wonder why cuff links need precision engineering but these ones made from jet fighter alloys can be made to rotate at over twenty thousand revs per minute, something to take your mind off any dull meeting.

Billy Tannery is a charming company set up by Jack at his family goat farm and specialising in goat leather bags and accessories.

Should you fancy cards then my sister in law Ellie Good has a range of finely printed designs that are stocked here in Dorset street.

So save yourself the trouble of trawling the high street and head to us for a Dashing Christmas.All the very best,

The Dashing Team

P.S – *SAVE THE DATE*

Join us for more Christmas Festivities as part of the Chiltern Street Christmas Event.
On Thursday 28th November between 5pm-8pm there will be workshops, live performances, food, drinks & shopping.

LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL 14th – 22nd September

London Design Festivalreturns to the capital for its 17th year this September with an inspiring programme of events and installations across the city.

Initially established in 2003 by Sir John Sorrell and Ben Evans, London Design Festival is an annual citywide celebration that brings together a global community of designers, artists, architects and the creative industries with a vision to celebrate and promote London as the design capital of the world. Since its inception, London Design Festival has grown to encompass a broad range of activities, and attracts visitors from around the world from over 75 countries and the 2018 Festival welcomed a record-breaking 588,000 visitors.

This year also marks 11 years with the V&A as a collaborating partner and the official Festival hub. During the Festival, the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance will once again play host to a series of specially-commissioned projects by internationally-renowned designers.

As a citywide event, London Design Festival is an essential platform for the capital’s major trade shows taking place across London as well, including: 100% Design, designjunction, Focus/19and London Design Fair.

These shows feature work from a local and international network of both new and established exhibitors. This year there will be 10 official Design Districts from East to West; North to South. Design Districts are areas where there are distinct concentrations of design activity and events that can be traversed easily on foot. Each District is organised locally and independently via the platform of London Design Festival.

This year will see a new Design District taking part in the Festival; Kings Cross Design District. It joins Bankside Design District, Brompton Design District, Clerkenwell Design Quarter, Chelsea Design District, Marylebone Design District, Mayfair Design District, Pimlico Road Design District, Shoreditch Design Triangle, Victoria Connections Design District and West Kensington Design District. In addition, the Festival is delighted to welcome back Paddington Central Design Route as a Design Route.

We are really excited to be hosting an event alongside our Marylebone Design Districtneighbours. Each district has a designated day to host events making visiting them all that little bit easier.

Marylebone’s main events will take place on Wednesday 18th September, which is the night of our new Menswear collection launch. Watch this space for more information about this in our next newsletter and to RSVP follow this link.

MILL OF THE MONTH: Stephen Walters

Photography by Ant Jones

Fit for a King or indeed a Queen is an expression we don’t hear much nowadays but one that would work well when talking about our jacquard fabrics woven for us by Stephen Walters.

The silk weaving company founded in Spitalfields in 1720 is now based in Sudbury, Suffolk and has been making fabrics for royalty for hundreds of years, major commissions include Queen Elizabeth II coronation robes and wedding dresses for Princess Anne and Lady Diana Spencer amongst many others.

Here at the Dashing HQ we are easily satisfied with the best so working with Stephen Walters is a natural choice. Regular loom weaving is a process by which the vertical warp threads are lifted together to form patterns such as twills and herringbones. These looms have been around in various forms for thousands of years and are what we use most of the time for our classic tweeds.

Jacquard looms have much more complex mechanisms by which individual warp threads are lifted, enabling highly complex patterns and even photographic images to be woven into cloth. The technology dates back to the 17th Century and includes innovations such as the invention of punch cards the earliest form of binary data storage later adopted by computers. We can thank King Louis XIV for renouncing the Edict of Nantes and causing skilled Huguenots to flee France and bring us the technology.

As with many powerful tools the skill is in control; we have used Jacquard weaving to provide an element of humour to our designs that would not be possible by regular weaving. Our Threadbare design is woven in pure cotton with the idea of emulating a garment worn to threads, we thought it amusing to use the Jacquard loom to give the supposed warp and weft an open wiggling shape as if stretched with age. The scale of the design does contain a regular repeat but this adds to the optical element of the fabric. The cotton cloth adds another dimension to our staple of woven wools and makes up in to a delightful summer jacket.

Our Exploded Houndstooth is another playful idea executed on Stephen Walters’ jacquard looms. The idea was to extrapolate a classic houndstooth design to a scale not otherwise possible on a classic loom, a zoomed in version of a weave made with a fine silk weft on a cotton warp. The resulting fabric is arresting to look at yet strong enough for a wild night out, perfect for a player and fit for a king of clubs.

Our jacquard designs are now also available through our Dashing Classics range meaning they will be stock supported going forward. However if you wanted these designs in a slightly different colour way, this is also possible but at a premium through our bespoke services. To find out more, do email Naomi@DashingTweeds.co.ukwho looks after all our cloth production.

P.S – *SAVE THE DATES*

We are also hosting two events in September for our official womenswear collection launching on the 17th September. To RSVP, please click here.

We will also be celebrating a private view of a new collaboration with 1960’s celebrity tailor, Dougie Millings on the 18th September. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

DASHING MEN: Hans Witteveen

When it comes to all round action then Hans is your man. Whether speed skating frozen canals in the Netherlands, cycling the alps, tearing up a tennis court or simply busting moves on the dance floor Hans is there with debonair aplomb.

A partner of law firm Stibbe and Head of the London practice, I am lucky enough to have Hans as my neighbour in Primrose Hill, with his film making wife and two teenage daughters he’s also a consummate host and a good cook.

Growing up in Amsterdam Hans started playing tennis almost as soon as he could walk and would also regularly train on the 400m skating tracks that are popular in the country. During the now rare cold winters the whole country becomes enthralled by the famous Elfstedentocht tour of eleven historic cities in the Friesland district. The tour stretches 120 miles along frozen canals, lakes and rivers and Hans was lucky to be able to participate and finish in the last race of 1997.

All this action has honed Hans’ physique into a proportion that looks excellent in a tailored suit. Earlier in life whilst working in his New York office Hans found the boxy American suits were not to his taste and favoured the more fitted silhouettes of Italian and particularly English tailoring. Dressing well for work is essential but the pleasure for Hans is when he can wear a great fitting suit for the shear pleasure of it. Starting with designer pieces from INA NYC in his younger days Hans is excited to have now discovered Dashing. His personal taste is for a close fitting well tailored suit that drapes perfectly, he prefers his trousers to hang just short of this shoes with no break, a look that gives sharp clean lines.

For sheer exuberant pleasure Hans loves his double breasted suit in the Dashing Stripe and is never short of compliments when donning it for a night out. The cut is derived from a famous suit tailored by Mr Fish in 1968 and now on display at the V&A museum. In the mid sixties Mr Fish had a renowned shop in Clifford Street just off Savile Row and as well as inventing the kipper tie he tailored for all the stars of the time from Mick Jagger to Peter Sellers.

Hans also loves the wit of his suit in the Clerkenwell Stripe a navy worsted with a boucle pinstripe. As a lawyer, friends are initially not surprised to see Hans sporting a pinstripe suit but as they get closer it becomes clear that the textured looped yarns of the stripe are altogether more humorous than expected and place Hans in a whole new light.

For those who don’t already know, be sure to drop by Dashing before the 31st August to shop our summer sale, with 30% off RTW, 20% off cloth and 10% off made to measure.

All the very best,

The Dashing Team

Long Live Fashion

Sustainability is the key nowadays. We have long been told that the rate at which we are plundering Earth’s resources and generating waste cannot continue, only now is this beginning to sink in. We need a radical rethink of the way we consume everything if we are to thrive or even survive; a good start is to think about our clothing. As naked apes we find clothing essential, not only does it protect us from the elements, but as is the case with so many animals, its use within society as a display for pecking order and mating rituals is paramount.

Sustainability in general should be a major concern of yours and as awareness grows of all others around you. Displaying your empathy to the cause by wearing clothing made in a sustainable way will not only make you feel better but also actively disclose your conviction to others. This will without doubt make you a more attractive person in their eyes and greatly increase the fulfilment required by your dress, especially where mating is concerned.

So how to be sustainable? Transparency within brands is now more commonplace elucidating the whole making journey of a garment but this can quickly become a tangled web. I find it easier to stick to the simple rule of quality over quantity. Buying fewer clothes and looking after them well is a good start. For clothing to last it has to be made well in a good quality yarn. Wool is tough to beat when it comes to longevity and sustainability, improvements in cross breeding sheep has lead to beautifully soft wearable fabrics and sheep feeding on natural grassland are entirely in balance with nature.

Repairing clothes is only possible if they are of a certain quality, cheap cotton garments made at a huge cost to the environment, especially where water is concerned, seem to spontaneously disintegrate in one go making mending impossible. If your favourite quality outfit develops a hole then they are easy to mend. Darning is an age old skill that is currently in the midst of a revival and it needn’t be done as neatly as possible. Prince Charles was sporting an obvious patch to his Anderson and Sheppard jacket a while back, proud to be extending the life of an old favourite. Indeed visible mending especially on wool garments has become an even more obvious sign of ones personal attitude to sustainability.

The Japanese, have made a whole art of patching with their Boro fabrics constructed almost entirely of mended rags but you needn’t go this far. A classic elbow patch to extend the life of a jacket could be all you need to increase your clothing sustainability. When things go beyond repair you know where to come for garments that will not only last for many years but become firm friends on the journey to a sustainable life.

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The Panache of a Panama

There are very few entirely hand made products in our lives nowadays. Ones where we can saviour the provenance and take pleasure in the generations of handed down skills that have accumulated to provide us with a useful item of joy. A Panamahat is one of those little luxuries that everyone should save for, not only are they potentially life saving when in the sun but they also have that rare combination of practicality and elegance. There is just no real replacement for a fine Panama hat.

At Dashing, we are working with Pachacuti a fair trade company set up by Carry Somers over 25 years ago. Avoiding middle men, who locally take a large cut from the weavers, they work directly with the makers ensuring they earn a decent living. This has enabled hat weaving communities to move away from the coastal regions of Ecuador and set up in the idyllic forested hills where they can encourage a new generation to continue the livelihood.

Interestingly, Panama hats come from Ecuador and acquired their name through numerous sales of the hats as they were transported for distribution through the trade routes. In the gold rush era any wise prospector would pick up a hat or two along with their gold digging tools, helping spread their popularity.

The enduring appeal of the Panama hat has to do with their superb quality. Toquilla straw is hand cut, boiled, split and dried before being hand woven in a continuing spiral that can take up to 8 months for a fabulously fine example. The skills have been passed down for generations and the only thing that has really changed is the style of the shapes.

Our Dashing Panamashave additional panache through the use of our unique cloth designs. These are applied by hand to the headband, giving the already desirable hats a peerless appeal.

We have a few sizes and designs left in the shop so come and snap one up before your summer adventures begin. They will serve as faithful companions on your journey, protecting against the elements as you forge ahead.

Should you be one of those people for whom only the best is good enough then there is a chance for you to commission the world’s finest hat. Mark from Pachacuti went on a recent trip to Ecuador and met the man who is widely regarded as the finest hat weaver in Ecuador. The world record stands at close to 4000 straw picks per inch and given close to a years work he is keen to try and break this record for you.

For more information, do check out Pachacuti and to customise your own Panama band using our cloth please drop an email hereor pop into Dashing at 47 Dorset Street, Marylebone.

Different Tweeds for Different Needs

When it comes to wearing tweed there are no restrictions at all. From school boys to doddering gents via a whole new wave of hipsters, tweed is for everyone male or female. Our bespoke tweed Nike Airforce 1’s were coveted by both teenagers and mature men. Our caps are sported by young fans of Peaky Blinders, city cyclists and a whole range of interesting people who drop by our shop.

Jackets and coats are best sellers and now that we are starting a made to measure range for ladies and even dogs there is no reason to not add new tweeds to your wardrobe. Colour is the key as tweed is the original way to add a colourful item to your wardrobe. Everyone has a favourite colour and we stock a huge range so get out your metaphorical brush and paint away, as they say ‘different strokes for different folks’.

Tweed is probably one of the most versatile and democratic cloths there is. Historically fabrics such as silk were the preserve of the aristocracy and rough hemps the raiment of peasants but tweed straddled all levels of society. Worn by Lords and poachers alike, the quality and usefulness of tweed has ensured it’s unwavering popularity over centuries, and so today despite the onslaught of synthetics, tweed is as popular as ever and continues in its versatility.

Through selective breeding of sheep and new technologies in spinning and finishing, wools and the resulting tweeds are constantly improving. Menswear is all about an evolution of form and function and all clothing needs to perform to the tasks of the wearer. As we are modernising tweed their relevance to 21st century life is increasingly apposite.

Sustainability is a major benefit of tweed but there needs to be an element of fun to clothes as well. This is were Dashing Tweeds excels, clothes need to bring an element of joy to all concerned and our fabrics transcend all ages and niches of society. For any Made to Measure enquiries or to book an appointment, drop an email here or stop by 47 Dorset Street, Marylebone.

Charlotte Chaplin: Health and Woolness

Wearing wool for health is not something we hear enough of these days. In the 1880’s the German physician Dr Gustav Jäger extolled the benefits of wearing wool next to the skin, rather than plant based yarns such as cotton or linen. His philosophy caught on to such an extent that the British business man Lew Tomalin established the eponymous brand. The resulting woollen underwear and swim suits he made proved such a success that a Royal Warrant was granted.

Fashion is a circular affair, at the moment with uncertainty in the air comfort can be had by glancing back and wondering what we can learn from the past to make life better both for our health and for that of the whole planet.

The rise of synthetics and the demise of woollen clothing, is a case in hand. Crude oil based clothing such as nylons, polyesters and acrylics were thought to be the answer to everything. They were cheap, easy to produce and seemed almost too good to be true yet now we are just beginning to realise their true cost on a global scale with micro plastics entering the food chain every time you wash a so called fleece. Sustainability is what is needed and there is nothing more sustainable than Herdwick Wool from The Lake District.

Charlotte Chaplin has around 500 of the indigenous sheep on her farm in Finsthwaite, Ulverston. The Herdwick breed has been around for hundreds of years and live in complete harmony with the natural habitat of the Lake District. With short stocky legs and an enviable fleece they roam easily over the steep hills grazing naturally on the local flora, taking just what they need without denuding the pastures. Interestingly they are born black and as they age they pass through chocolate tones on their way to almost pure white.

Charlotte starts to shear her ‘girls’ as she calls them at around 18 months just when the wool is turning white and the length is perfect for spinning. A local farmer Stephen helps with the shearing and then the fleeces are sent off to Haworths for scouring. Charlotte is keen to keep the wool as natural as possible so there is no dying and the pure wool is just cleaned before spinning at Laxtons. From there the yarns are sent to Townend weavers where Charlotte’s elegant and timeless herringbone designs are woven into cloth. The last stage is finishing and Charlotte uses our preferred company Schofields, they soften the hardy wool and make it eminently wearable.

In our Marylebone flagship shop we are stocking three of Charlotte’s designs all in the natural colours of the Herdwick wool. Touching the cloth evokes feelings of the healthy wild landscapes of the Lake District and just by wearing it I’m sure this will rub off on you. The cloth makes up into beautiful jackets and for the brave we can certainly follow Dr Jäger and tailor a health imbuing swimming outfit.

If you have any questions or would like to book a Made to Measure appointment using Charlotte’s designs, kindly drop an email here or visit us in store at 47 Dorset Street, Marylebone.

Joe la placa, artist, galleries, collector, dashing tweeds, tweed, tweeds, menswear, luxury, chiltern street, tailoring, Marylebone tailors, Marylebone menswear

DASHING MEN: Joe La Placa

Joe La Placa’s whole life has been immersed in the world of art whether as a painter, musician or gallerist. Listening to him talk about the start of his career in New York after studying at the School of Visual Arts, I could not help feeling how much I would have liked to have been there. Hanging out with Andy Warhol in the factory, working with The Sugar Hill gang in his producers studio, constructing early synthesiser electronics, painting and helping Jean-Michel Basquiat with his work, Joe’s foot print appears in the corner of one piece adding no doubt to its million dollar value.

I caught up with Joe at 22 Grafton Street in his current role as Director of the Cardi Galleryproudly showing me his latest show of Mono-Ha artistswhich he is hoping to sell as a whole to a serious collector. As far as I can see Joe never stops, running both the Mayfair and Milan branches of the gallery, looking after his family and still managing to squeeze in some time for recording original melodies on his guitar.

Talent and the drive for success is in the genes, his grandfather a humble cobbler from Palermo arrived in Manhattan to became a large shoe manufacturer, his mother was a successful opera singer and his father a scientist. This mix of business acumen, artistic flare and analytic focus is a rare one that has stood Joe in good stead. His early painting work consisted of immaculately drawn moire patterns on a huge scale, a visual metaphor for sound waves amongst other things and definitely with a ‘wow’ factor.

Joe’s love of the artisanal explains his passion for Dashing Tweeds, his favourite suit is in our Grey Spark design, a grey worsted Merino cloth with a broken check in wool and Japanese cotton. The design started life being hand woven by Kirsty in our London studio before production in the Scottish Borders. For Joe this design ideally marries the two worlds of a Mayfair director with artistic luminary.

For those of you with an artistic streak be it creative or collector then Dashing is what you need to wear. Bespeaking a suit is a collaborative affair so do drop by our flagship shop at 47 Dorset Street, Marylebone to see our latest collections. If you would like to book a Made to Measure appointment please click here.

New season fabrics from clothmaker & tailor Dashing Tweeds – Financial Times

Dashing’s latest feature in the FT’s How to Spend It Magazine. Read the full article here.

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DASHING EVENT: Talking Ties with Shaun Gordon on the 4th July

On 4th July Shaun Gordonwill guide you through all the ins and outs of ties. There will be a short talk, demonstrations of techniques and a chance to learn new knots that will not only impress your peers but lead you to a more fulfilled life. The event will also give you the chance to preview ties from Shaun’s latest collection, which is inspired by the sculptures in the Medieval and Renaissance hall at the V&A museum.

Shaun’s personal mantra is one that we would all do well to follow. The essence is that if you look good, you’ll feel good and so will others around you. Shaun acquired his sartorial skills from Alvin, his impeccably dressed Grandfather and I’ve never seen him look less than immaculate. His belief certainly holds true and I always find it a pleasure to see what he’s wearing.

Shaun’s elegance is very much based around his beautiful ties, he chooses colours and patterns which pleasingly offset his mixture of vintage and bespoke tailoring to create a lively freshness.

Ties have become a maligned item of clothing in our current dress down culture. Americans have been debasing sartorial standards in the City for years now, with the introduction of casual Fridays, giving ties the boot and replacing well hanging wool suits with wrinkly cotton chinos and indecision.

On the up side, it’s never been easier to look impressive and make an impact both at work or play. Traditional English tailoring is all about attention to detail, creating a gently sculpted chest and nicely shaped waist using an elegant worsted cloth, wearing a good fitted shirt and of course adding the perfect silk tie as the finishing touch. Savile Row has spent close to 200 years refining this look so it was no surprise that Shaun’s search for neck wear perfection led him to dissecting vintage pieces in order to learn how to make his own.

With a degree from London College of Fashion, industry experience working for Turnbull and Asseramongst other companies and an additional two years of personal tie making research, Shaun decided to set up his own company. His designs radiate a joyful elegance which would suit any gentleman.

The history and social implications of tie knots is a fascinating subject that one could talk about for hours. When was the four in hand first used? Is a double Windsor twice as good as a single? Is a small Kent knot hipper than a square knot and should I even attempt a Merovingian from The Matrix?

There will also be an exclusive 10% off all Shaun Gordon ties during the event, so get your ties ready and dress your neck for the evening!

The event is free, but please RSVP hereand stop by our shop at 47 Dorset Street, Marylebone on the 4th July. We look forward to seeing you then.

6.00pm – 6.45pm Arrival drinks

6.45pm – 7.15pm Talk and Demonstration

7.15pm – 7.30pm Q&A

7.30pm – 8pm Networking

For the love of Harris Tweed

Authenticity is the new luxury. Machines that were once just sci-fi fantasies are now a reality and if Captain Kirk wannabes ask their replicators to make a tweed I’m sure the outcome will look pretty good. But is it the real thing? Tweed clad philosophers could theorise the night away spinning arguments with quotes from Plato to Bertrand Russell but one point they would all have to agree on is that the synthesiser could not make Harris Tweed.

Rules for the weaving of genuine Harris Tweed cloth from the archipelago Islands off the West Coast of Scotland are incredibly strict and were recorded as acts of Parliament over a century ago. Genuine Harris Tweeds are produced by just a few mills and many are hand woven by crofters living a self sustaining life on the island ensuring a very low carbon footprint for the fabric. The Harris Tweed Authority hand checks all production and authenticates it with the famous orb logo.

As climates ameliorate the islander have adapted and produce what they term “feather weight” qualities. These weigh in at around 14 oz, which may say as much about the local bird population as the climate of Scotland. However, if you are going to invest in a Harris Tweed jacket or suit it’s reassuring to know that the hardy fabric will wear for many years.

A while ago we worked with the Carloway Mill to weave some original designs for us. These were highly prized by tweed aficionados around the world and especially in Japan where the love of originality is endemic in the highly cultured population. Sadly, the Carloway Mill has now laid down its shuttles, but there are others and we are stocking a large range of glorious coloured tweeds woven by Harris Tweed Hebrides. We have close to a hundred different colour ways of classic Harris Tweeds to choose from.

In addition to the classics we have our unique collaborative design Iona as below. This fashionable royal blue barley corn weave structure is a more modern design and suitable to wear in town and out in the country.

Our Iona cloth is handwoven on a Hattersley loom as below. If keeping a low carbon footprint is as important to you as it is to us then you will be interested to know that these looms are driven solely by foot power. The weaver literally puts his all into the production, boldly pedalling as no man has before…

Beam down to our shop at 47 Dorset Street, Marylebone and even if your everyday items are facsimiled you can be sure your new Harris Tweed jacket is an original. Do drop us a line at Holly@DashingTweeds.co.uk if you have any questions or would like to book a Made to Measure appointment using one of our Harris Tweeds!

Going Short!

One often reads that economics effects the amount of leg you see or visa versa. The so called skirt length theory suggestS that the observation of hem lines is a good indicator of market direction with traders looking forward to a bull market as they spot more knees. Now in our times of equality, its high time that men get their knees out in the open and perhaps the economy will start picking up. There may be several years of more data to collect but signs are that shorts are on the up.

Short suits for work, once a novelty rarely spotted outside of Sydney or outposts of the empire are now no longer to be scoffed at, at least outside of the square mile. As global warming kicks in shorts will be on the rise. Needless to say, shorts are the garment of choice for summer holidays with the purchase of a pair imparting one with an almost immediate air of tranquility.

Enjoyment is an important ethos of Dashing Tweeds, our fabrics are designed with a wit that is often missing in menswear. The colourful nature of our sophisticated fine Merino cloths make for fabulous shorts and with my preferred cut, slightly wider with a turn up just at the top of the knee you can tell that good times are ahead.

To order a pair drop us a line to Holly@DashingTweeds.co.uk or come by the shop to be measured up. We have a great choice of short suitable light weight fabrics and you can order a pair to any length depending on your mood.

EVENT: Ryan Brockbank of Tailored Casuals

We are excited to announce we will be hosting an event with Tailored Casuals showcasing their first capsule collection on the 4th June from 6pm – 8pm.

With years of experience in fashion and design, the label aims to fill a gap in the market for high quality affordable casual wear with a more tailored feel. Referencing a retro football aesthetic and classic tailoring silhouettes, Ryan has gained notable interest from Savile row and leading sportswear brands. It was during his graduate collection that he approached Dashing for some help with fabric as he admired our vibrant designs.

Ryan was lucky enough to be nominated as one of the best 25 collections of Graduate Fashion Week during which point Dashing also exhibited a few of his garments in the shop window of the Sackville Street store. The relationship grew and to help with the launch of Tailored Casuals we agreed on a 4 piece capsule collaboration using their peak design, but with a twist.

Do drop by Dashing on the 4th to learn more about Tailored Casuals and hear from Ryan about his inspirations and aspirations for the brand. We will also be showcasing Ryan’s designs in our window display which feature Dashing’s unique cloth designs!

To RSVP to the event, kindly click here.

DASHING WOMEN: Flora Macdonald Johnston

Junior Fashion Editor of the FT, Flora is a fan of a check pattern. In a recent article about striking plaid designs Flora learned about Dashing Tweeds and how our creative process is on a constant roll. Enamoured by our urban designs, bringing tweed into town, Flora was very keen on sporting one of our jackets.

We are excited to announce we are launching an exclusive womenswear collection this September to include jackets, trousers, skirts and coats all through our made to measure tailoring service.

Flora desired a fashionable more masculine ‘boxy cut’ for everyday wear and easy pairing with her wardrobe which we sampled for her in our new designs. Through our new range of made to measure womenswear, each person can select the style and cut that suits them!

The cloth Flora chose is our Black Urban Shadow Check a medium weight fine Merino wool cloth with a beautiful drape and a quality to last for many years. As you can see Flora knows how to put a nonchalant look together par excellence, her wide leg trousers, colour coordinated accessories and flawless complexion need only a Dashing jacket for completion.

If you would like to book a Made to Measure appointment at the Dashing flagship shop, kindly drop an email to Holly@DashingTweeds.co.uk or pop in at 47 Dorset Street, Marylebone, W1U 7ND.

london craft week, craft, weaving, textiles

Celebrating Craft in London 8th – 12th May

Not so long ago craft was a word to be avoided. People and companies did not wish to be associated with some sort of pre industrialised cottage activity, conjuring images of peasants spinning something fluffy by the fireside. Modern life should be clean, efficient, functional with high design.

How times have changed. Many a lifestyle blog now promotes the simple country life, homemade faire, no phones in sight and a plethora of handicrafts from macrame to felting. Modern life now tries to straddle these two extremes and interestingly technology and connectivity has enabled old crafts to thrive in our modern world and more importantly be sought after and sell.

London Craft Week was set up four years ago to showcase artisans at the highest level and enable customers to commission hand made pieces. Craftsmen demonstrate everything from watchmaking to weaving and glassblowing to calligraphy at various events across the capital.

This year the events take place all over town from 8th – 12th May. Do check out the programme here and I guarantee there will be something to interest you. I like the idea of weaving waste at Battersea Power Station and organ making at the Royal Festival Hall.

Being busy in our new shop we are not on the programme this year but we do always have a loom in the shop and Holly is happy to illuminate you about the woven arts anytime, so do stop by and say hello at 47 Dorset Street, Marylebone.

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CALIBRE – Cycling Chic

Dashing’s latest feature in CALIBRE Magazine about our cycling collection using 3m reflective yarn woven into British wool, read the full story here

dashing tweeds, tweed, wedding, weddings, summer weddings, marylebone, menswear, tailoring, british tailors, bespoke, made to measure

Summer Weddings at Dashing!

It’s going to be a glorious summer for weddings so the forecasters say, so now is the time to make sure you are prepared.

You’d be surprised at the number of men who walk into our shop saying they are getting married next week and need something special to wear. Due to the culture of immediate deliveries and ready to wear some people forget that tailoring at its best takes time. Our made to measure takes 6 weeks so it’s best to think two months ahead at least, although we do offer an emergency 2 week express service at a premium for those reading this with a sudden sense of alarm.

Whilst the bride is the traditional focus of a wedding appearing just in time to sashay down the aisle, on many occasions the groom takes centre stage. Designer Henry Holland is a great fan of Dashing and we collaborated in the early days, weaving a flamboyant check for his catwalk collection modelled by Agyness Deyn. It was an honour that his husband, designer David Hodgson, sported Dashing for the wedding and as you can see they both look like the cat that’s got the cream.

(Photograph by Joanna Nicole)

As a man, one of the joys of dressing for a wedding be it groom, guest or the honourable position of father of the bride is that convention is now not so important. The days of donning a classic morning coat before a jaunt to the church and a wedding breakfast have been surpassed by all sorts of personal fantasies, and so it should be. Individuality is to be encouraged in these homogeneous times; without flights of fancy we would still be grounded in bear skins. For his idyllic country wedding Philip choose our Whitbread Roxy cloth and accessorised it beautifully with an orange flower to match his bride’s head dress, photographed by the wonderful, Joanna Nicole. Defying convention with a relaxed open necked shirt Philip looks at ease and joyful, starting married life as he means to carry on.

With over a hundred cloth designs to choose from there should be somethingDashing for everyone. We use light weight Merino wool for the summer and heavier British wools in our winter fabrics. Using our made to measure service could not be easier, after selecting cloth, linings and buttons we guide you through all the possible styling options and then 5-6 weeks later your tailored suit is ready. Minor alterations such as turning up trousers and nipping in the waist take no more than a couple of days after the final fitting. Then as Stanley Holloway sings; Spruced up and looking’ in me prime, girls come and kiss me, show how you’ll miss me. But get me to the Church on time!

(Photograph by Joanna Nicole)

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EVENT: Return of the Jocks

In celebration, on the 16th May from 6pm – 8pm we are hosting a launch event for Marcus Agerman Ross and his new print edition of Jocks of Nerds.

He will talk about all aspects of the magazine as well as spinning the decks. So do drop by for a drink and chat, you never know what new friends you’ll meet.

RSVP by clicking the link here.

One often hears about Golden Eras, times that you have just missed which are eulogised about for years to come. As far as menswear is concerned the Golden Age of the fashion magazine has to be the last two decades of the 20th Century. Pioneering new titles such as The Face, i-D and Arena all started up in the 1980’s and literally turned everything upside down. Inspiration came from the streets, real people from all backgrounds were cast as models and the images that were created deified convention and filtered up to influence the fashion industry in a whole new way.

Marcus was lucky enough to be working at the coal face of this mine of creativity albeit during the sunset period before the dawn of digital. By 2003 he was theFashion Editor of i-D magazine with a fist full of contacts that such a position bestows. Vice magazine lured Marcus away and offered him a role that was more concerned with business development and an understanding of the nuts and bolts ofmagazine production. However, the behemoth that is the internet was starting to flex its muscles, extending its limbs into all of our lives. Those publishers with foresight saw the impending peril and cleverly prepared to jump ship or at least straddle theold and new vehicles of content delivery.

Marcus was one of the wise and in 2009 started his own magazine online. At thetime the idea of creating something as beautiful as an art directed magazine for consumption on line was anathema. For a start only four fonts were available to use and Moses was still the only bearer of a tablet. Starting as so many pioneers before him, Marcus took to his kitchen table armed with only immense enthusiasm and a desire to do for his generation what the likes of The Buffalo Boys had done for theirs.

Jocks and Nerds was the working title Marcus gave to his magazine subtitled ‘Style, History, Culture’. The idea was to create a dialectic discourse exploring the almost Apollonian and Dionysian dichotomies within us all and implicit in the title. As well as creating content himself Marcus commissioned writers and photographers to shine a light on subcultures exploring their roots and desires as well as explaining theintricacies of their dress codes. As with all good London scenes fans would meet in Shoreditch pubs and clubs in the days when the area could still be described as edgy and Marcus would impress with his skills behind the decks. These night were always amusing as cliques would mingle, some on Vespas others on fixie bikes, some in leathers and others in tweeds.

The success of the digital magazine, in terms of subscribers and readers led Marcus to travel full cycle and defy current trends by publish a print edition. It was at this time that I would often bump in to Marcus around Soho with a fully loaded trolley of copies destined for ‘in the know’ outlets where eagerly awaiting fans would be hanging out.

Producing a monthly magazine independently is no easy task and a while back Marcus had to put the whole thing on hold, but as they say ‘You can’t keep a good man down’, Jocks and Nerds is returning. Join us on the 16th May from 6pm – 8pm to pick up the latest copy for the newly launched magazine and to hear from its curator Marcus Agerman Ross.

Please RSVP here.

All the very best,

The Dashing Team

P.S – *SAVE THE DATE*

Marylebone Food Festival is on from the 24th – 28th April, to find out more and explore the world of food in our local area, follow this link:
https://www.marylebonefoodfestival.com/

dashing tweeds, tweed, tweeds, menswear, luxury, tailors, marylebone, chiltern street, golden shears, golden shears awards

Shining at The Golden Shears

The Golden Shears award is the country’s most prestigious tailoring competition taking place bi-annually at the great Merchant Taylors’ livery hall in the heart of London.

The competition was set up in 1974 and for the last twenty years has been focusing on the talents of trainee tailors and apprentices from all over the UK. It is a huge honour to be selected as one of the 24 finalists for the awards night. During the evening the tailored creations are presented in a professional catwalk show to a panel of the most highly regarded tailors and stylists. Marks are awarded for technical ability as well as for design flair. The students have to create a garment entirely on their own from the conception through to cutting and sewing and since the recent renaissance in tailoring the competition has become extraordinarily tough.

This year Leisha Parlour a 20 year old South Londoner on a Bespoke Tailoring course at the London College of Fashion was very excited to use our reflective ‘Red Raver Wave‘ and ‘The Cyclist‘ fabric for her competition piece. She tailored a fabulous ladies trouser suit with bias cut patch pockets on both the jacket and trousers and other features such as pleated shoulders which enable maximum movement and comfort.

Many of her friends are skateboarders inspiring Leisha to create what she describes as casual bespoke tailoring, taking elements from both baggy skater styles and classic tailoring. The beautifully tailored piece took months of work and received great praise at the event. Leisha has work experience booked with the Italian tailor Riedizione this summer and then another year of study before she would like to work as a cutter for a major fashion house. We wish her all the best!

All the very best,

The Dashing Team

Unlined Jackets for Spring!

You may have noticed that a new form of clothing has been conceived recently; the shacket.

This bastard offspring of a shirt and jacket is actually starting to gain a popular reputation amongst the sartorially conscious, and probably rightly so. As the climate ameliorates and gadgets proliferate, men are left with the dilemma of choosing between pockets or a man bag. Since girdle pouches of the renaissance, stylish men have struggled to elegantly carry everyday stuff, if you are French then it’s just possible to carry off one of those small wrist worn handbags but for the rest of us pockets are a necessity.

A jacket with pockets was one of the most seminally useful items of clothing to have ever been invented and unless you happen to be a sporran wearing Scot nigh on essential.

Whilst untucked shirts sporting pockets can to some extent impersonate a jacket you are better off with the real thing in a light form, and this brings us to our made to measure unlined jackets.

These jackets are beautifully tailored and bestowed with no less than five functioning pockets. Instead of a heavy construction hidden behind a lining the jackets are simply tailored with the exposed edges of the seams elegantly sewn over with a fine lining of your colour choice. By the nature of the pattern the external pockets are patch ones as used on classic cricket or rowing blazers but the internal ones are able to be fastened securely with buttons.

Our new summer fabrics in fine Merino wool are ideal for unlined jackets being strong enough to hold their shape yet let enough to avoid overheating.

To find out more do drop us an email at Holly@DashingTweeds.co.uk, or pop in to our store at 47 Dorset Street.

All the very best,

The Dashing Team

End of Roll Saturday’s at Dashing!

At Dashing, all of the concepts for clothand ready to wearstart in their weave design studio in Islington, which is the creative hub for the brand and is where the updated cloth designs for each season are conceived, adding new colours and textures to menswear and providing a contemporary twist to traditional tailoring whilst still maintaining the luxurious quality.

With a wide range of cloth available at their flagship shop in Marylebone, Dashing wanted to offer people the last chance to get their hands on some of their limited edition final lengths.

Introducing End of Roll Saturday’s where you can get any End of Roll design with 50% off, available in store only.

Innovation and experimentation is at the very heart and soul of the brand. Dashing is all about bringing variety back to menswear through cloth production and all of their original contemporary tweeds and high concept woven textiles are designed in their Islington based weave studio before the samples are sent for production to the mills in Scotland and around the UK.

Dashing Tweeds uses all the skilled crafts accumulated over generations and combines them fearlessly to make highly unique fabrics. Dashing’s End of Roll’s can therefore be re-crafted into a range of items from home wear such as sofas, pillow cases and chair covers to electronic accessories such as laptop cases.

The heir to the throne Prince Charleshimself was even spotted wearing a suit jacket with a neat but conspicuous repair. The royals are possibly not the best figureheads of frugality butthree cheers for Charles for making do and mending, particularly for insisting on using only British fabric, generally from smaller mills. Bespoke suits of this kind cost large sums, therefore its reassuring that when he discovered a tear in the fabric, rather than popping out to the shops for a new suit, a repair was in order with one of his tailors.

Additionally, you can use Dashing’s End of Roll cloth to create smaller garments such as skirts, having your very own Dashing look. The Dashing cloth can also be used to add a burst of colour in design details throughout your own clothing, such as collar or sleeve features.

Do stop by our flagship shop at 47 Dorset Street, Maryleboneto shop our library of End of Roll designs on Saturday’s. If you have any enquiries kindly click here.

All the very best,

The Dashing Team

cloth, dashing tweeds, tweed, menswear, tailors, made to measure, bespoke, tailoring, british tailors, design, chiltern street, marylebone

Dashing’s Latest Cloth Collection

This spring season we really are bringing you some most Dashing new fabrics. We’ve given traditional check and block designs a techno wake up with names coined from early 90’s video games and a playful attitude to match.

We’ve found that fine Merino wool is the very best for summer and so have concentrated on the highest quality 9oz suitings. This weight is ideal for creating an elegant drape and being pure wool the fabrics not only tailor well but are extremely comfortable to wear.

First up with have ‘Berzerk’, a beautifully balanced large scale Glen check with acid green and vibrant magenta threads against a ground of neutral ecru and grey. This in a way is the most traditional design and would make a splendid summer soiree or informal wedding suit.

Next up is ‘Pixels’, a Madras type design in greenish shades with a hot pink overcheck. Vibrant and large scale this is less formal and ideal as a daywear lounge suit for sauntering through life.

‘Tetris’ and ‘Galaxian’ as the names suggest are the boldest of our new block type design and like nothing you have seen before.

At first glance the sine wave undulating cubes in ‘Tetris’ floating against a wash of pink, green and grey may seem incongruous in a suit, yet surprisingly once tailored up the effect is mesmerising in a delightful way. We envisaged a short suit to be worn to dinner on a Balearic Isle, setting the scene for a night of ecstatic elation.

Similarly ‘Galaxian’ in a bolder, more graphic colour combination of magenta, acid green and grey would look unsurpassed when made up as a suit for summer cocktail parties.

Lastly ‘Block Out’ woven in navy and steel Merino yarns is a serious party fabric. The weave structure gives the face of the cloth a steely lustre through which the undulating dashes of navy traverse. For nights out in the spotlight or even on stage our modern new design ticks the box.

We are also excited to announce that we will be showcasing the latest collection at ‘Munich Fabric Start’ for the first time this season with our Agent Matthias Rollmann. The show runs from 29th – 31st January and has over 20,000 visitors yearly with 1,050 exhibitors, Dashing will be showcasing designs alongside other brands such as Fox Brothers, Alfred Brown, Ulster Weavers and Bernstein & Banleys.

To find out more about the show or to set up a meeting do drop us an email – Holly@DashingTweeds.co.uk

Do stop by our flagship shop at 47 Dorset Street, Marylebone to shop our new cloth, or if you prefer to shop online click here where you can order samples from the new range as well!All the very best,

The Dashing Team

tweed, menswear, fashion, marylebone, mens fashion, tailoring, textile, sale, January sale

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It’s that time again, time to look towards the future, shrug off the old and metamorphose.

Popular resolutions often include health drives, decluttering and living a cleaner more environmentally friendly life, all things with which we fully empathise. Also, perhaps it’s a good idea to bring joy to others through acts of generosity and through a general aura of bonhomie. You will not be surprised to learn that all your wishes can be fulfilled through the wearing of Dashing Tweeds.

It goes without saying that dressing in a more upbeat manner puts fellow citizens in a good mood, people will feel you’ve made an effort just for them. Think how many ‘occasion pieces’ languish in your wardrobe providing moths with a sumptuous feast when they could be aired on a more regular basis, simply replace ‘dress down’ with ‘dress up’.

Wearing quality clothes for as long as possible, mending and patching is the only way forward, the world just can’t sustain societies which discard high street bought clothes within a year. Some discarded clothes from sweat shop production are sent off to third world countries where ironically they often cause more harm than good by undermining the sales of locally produced more environmentally friendly textiles. So the moral of the story is to buy sustainable British wool clothing, look after it and pass it down through the family, especially during the rare time of a Dashing sale.

Take advantage of our 30% off ready to wear by handing your cap to a deserving pal and buying yourself a new one, similarly hand your suit to someone waiting in the wings of succession and for 20% off our made to measure service, you can have a new one in a spanking original design tailored to last many more years.

We are also offering 10% off our beautiful British woven fabrics, use a patch to repair some holes or create a whole new heirloom garment for generations to come.

These offers are available in store at 47 Dorset Street, Marylebone, London, or online at www.DashingTweeds.co.uk – using the below codes online:

‘DASHINGCLOTH10‘ – for 10% off cloth
‘DASHINGM2M20‘ – for 20% off our made to measure service
‘DASHINGRTW30‘ – for 30% off our ready to wear collections
(offers available until 31th January 2019)

All the very best, and Happy New Year,

From the Dashing Team

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Dashing x Nike Lab!

The hypebeast and sneakerhead culture is booming and Dashing is on the case. Combining luxury with streetwear aesthetics, Dashing teamed up with the iconic Nike Lab in Shoreditch for custom sneaker orders in our cloth.

Since our collaboration with Converse seven years ago we are honoured to be an official supplier to Nike. Dashing created a bespoke pair using one of our latest designs – Sweet, which was inspired by the rocking 70’s.

Dashing’s Founder, Guy chose to freshly kit out his feet with a pair of classic Nike Air Force 1 High Tops. This silhouette is an iconic Nike staple, an original design with its roots in basketball. As you would expect from the luxury price you can fully customise the shoe from scratch and Guy took great pleasure in exercising his creativity with every possible element.

Dashing draped the tip, strap and backtab of the shoe using Nike’s key ‘Playmaker leather’ in Night Maroon. The eyestay, backstay and double Swoosh are all in the ‘Dory Metallic’ design embodying the timeless ‘University Red’ tone. With a flash light, the Nike Swoosh on the sneaker reflects, so it fits in perfectly with Dashing’s aesthetic.

Avid sneaker collectors around the world are now building their own bespoke shoes using cloth from Dashing’s rarefied collections. Dashing offers such a diverse variety of colour and patterns that the sneakerhead generation is spoilt for choice. By using Dashing’s seasonal cloth collections the bespoke shoes are given an extra element of desirability and originality leading to envious glances from like-minded hype beasts.

As a sector that is driven by millennial shoppers, the sneaker scene is now beginning to infiltrate the mass market with many luxury and premium fashion brands offering an element of customisation within their ranges. Kal, a confirmed sneakerhead has taken huge pleasure in customising his Nike ‘crepes’ in Dashing’s Threadbare cloth.

Drop by our store in Dorset Street, Marylebone to view the Sweet Nike Collaboration and our full range of fabrics which Nike can use. Then arrange to stop by Nike Lab in Shoreditch at 477-478 Bateman’s Row, London EC2A 3HH to book your one to one appointment. The lovely Sam and Jess will guide you through the bespoke customisation process helping you build totally unique ‘crepes’ from nose to lace.

All the very best,

The Dashing Team

dashing tweeds, tweed, tweeds, menswear, luxury, tailoring, British tailors, British tailoring, design, cloth, chiltern street, Dorset street, 47 Dorset street, Marylebone, london

Final Festive Orders at Dashing!

“Last Orders Gents!” and Ladies. There is still plenty of time left to prop up the bar at your Christmas parties, but there is hardly any time left to get all your Christmas shopping done.

We have a range of gifts available in store and online from warming Donegal jumpers, laptop bags, flat caps and cycle hats, winter overcoats, Dashing dog collars and many more, but time is ticking and we want to make sure you get everything in time for the big day!

Below outlines our final order dates for delivery in time for Christmas:

UK delivery,order by is the 19th December
European delivery, order by 17th December
International delivery, order by 14th December

If you think your loved ones have an eye for Dashing, but you’re not exactly sure what, then a gift voucher is a great idea, they can ponder and decide what they want at a later date. We can post you a gold edged voucher to wrap up and present at Christmas.

The Dorset Street flagship shop is open from:

Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm
Saturdays 11am – 5pm
and closed on Sundays.

Then during the festive season, the shop will be closed for Christmas from the 22nd Decemberand will reopen its doors on the 3rd January, if there is anything we can help you with in the meantime, do drop us an email here.

Wishing you all a joyous Christmas and a fabulous Happy New Year!

All the very best,The Dashing Team

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A Very Dashing Christmas!

We come into our stride at Christmas time, after all ’tis the season for Dashing. However, for you there are halls to deck, figgy puddings to bring and of course piles of presents to find before merry gentleman get any rest at all. Shopping need not be a trudging lament through rude winds and even ruder crowds, you can find comfort, joy and lots more by dropping into Dashing Tweeds on Thursday December 6th. From 3pm till 9pm, there will not only be quaffing for all at our Dorset Street store but also a beautifully curated array of gifts.

We have recently been collaborating with one of the finest new English tie brands, Windridge and Young. They have been creating exquisitely made collections of classic ties using our creative fabrics. Our fine Merino and British wool designs make up extraordinarily well into neckwear giving a refreshing and relaxed change from the ubiquitous silk jacquards. Tie wearers can never have enough choice, so now you can surprise the ones in your life. They are certain to not already own a Dashing tie and our wool ones will jolly up the winter season.

Marion Friedmann has become a great friend over the last year, her refined eye and original style coupled with her tireless energy bringing Mexican artists to light makes meeting her a constant pleasure. Her geometric lamp by Pedro Cerisola will be hanging from our ceiling rose and Marion will also be displaying a select range of handmade objects and artworks in obsidian, ceramics, glass and textiles from various fascinating Mexican artists.

The delightful hedonism of those rave days in the ‘90’s is part of the fabric of Dashing Tweeds. Dancing around fields without a care in the world, feet on the ground, head in the clouds, psychedlic colour splashes, ethereal electronic tunes and oneness with the world. Weaving wools with technical fabrics is one outcome of this cross-pollination and another is the intricate artwork of Noj Barker. Time and space shrink the more you study them and the closer you look. Just thinking about their creation makes you giddy. There is no quick fix for these intricate art pieces, through endless hours of work, Noj elasticates time listening to Bach and reminiscing on the ecstatic days towards the end of our last millennium, ever decreasing brush points giving his paintings an additional raised dimension.

We will also be showcasing Guy Field shirts, a London based Italian made shirt maker, created by Christopher Field. With a strong focus on craftsmanship, Guy Field clearly understands the importance of quality fabrics and how a shirt should fall on one’s body. With an original grasp of contemporary tailoring and style, Guy Field shirts are great Christmas presents for your husband, brother and any loved ones.

Scented candles have become a way of adding atmosphere to a room or event just by lighting and retiring. Smell works deeply on the most primitive areas of our brain arousing emotion without even thinking about it and of course the ancient roots of winter festivals all evolve around lighting lamps and fires. Gold Hart candles transport you to the wild romantic habitats of Scotland not far from mills who weave our tweed. The brand is based on the myth of the Scottish white hart stag and a mystical vision who saved King David from a goring. Relax by a glowing candle flame and the heathery vapours will transport you to the lands of legend and adventure, make sure you are fully prepared by wearing a tweed suit.

Pocket squares are a safe bet when it comes to presents for uncles, works of art that are also useful. Madeleine Faust has been painting for most of her life and over the past few years she has been refining the process of turning her art works into attractive, elegant and decorative adornments. With a great choice of colours, you can find one to add harmony to any outfit or indeed just add a splash of colour for the sheer joy of it.

Leather goods make excellent Christmas presents; there is always a need for a new bag especially nowadays when we should never have to use anything from non-renewable resources. Goats are a great source of food and leather and have provided the inspiration and raw materials for Jack Millington’s brand, Billy Tannery. He set up his own goatskin tannery in the midlands and started making truly beautiful bags, wallets and aprons from the super soft hides. Yet to have his own London store, our recent event at Dashing in collaboration with Billy Tannery was a great opportunity to see his kid creations and of course buy them for the family.

Deborah Colman started designing and selling printed fabrics in her teens, however a career as a filmmaker intervened before Debs could return to her first love. Now back with a printing studio in London’s East End, Debs’ imagination has been ignited by nature. Crystalline fissures, skeletonised leaves and moulting plumage, exquisite telluric and evolutionary creations give form both directly and through interpretation to gloriously printed fabrics. In a process of material awareness, Debs hand prints her images onto contextually correct textiles and then goes one stage further and fashions them into usable works of art. Lamp shades, cushions and scarves form the backbone of her collection but you can also commission new creations for yourself or others and with empathetic use of colour there will always be something to please.

We will be selling great Christmas presents at our in store event, from Dashing hats and gloves to bags and ready to wear. To celebrate Christmas the Dashing way, kindly RSVP to Holly@DashingTweeds.co.uk and drop by the shop on 6th December between 3pm to 9pm!

All the very best,

Dashing

A Conscious Christmas on Chiltern Street!

Christmas is a time of reflection and sometimes action. Scrooge just managed to save himself at the eleventh hour, making amends for his lack of concern and general stinginess, but can we? Planet earth has been plundered for generations, vast areas recklessly destroyed by greed, is it too late to save not just ourselves but the lives of others? These questions should be on everyones minds this season, hiding under the bedcovers is no longer an option. We are all witness now to the ghosts of habitats past.

The Portman Estate are taking action by hosting a ‘Conscious Christmas’ event on the 29th November on Chiltern Street. This will celebrate sustainability and careful use of resources, especially as the conversation around waste amplifies during the time when we shop for Christmas gifts. Throughout the event, many shops along the street will be hosting interactive events to celebrate the concepts of sustainable manufacturing, use and reuse.

During the evening of 29th November, Dashing will be hosting craft workshops in store giving live weaving demonstrations on a hand loom, showing visitors how important it is to use sustainable wools, as well as presenting our high quality tweeds and clothes that last for years and years.

Dashing will also be having a pop up stand on Chiltern Street, selling smaller products from our range such as hats, ties and jumpers; Christmas gifts which will be cherished for generations.

Sustainability is at the core of Dashing, the company exclusively works with wool woven in the UK, and a large part of the production is with British wool, resulting in a very low carbon footprint in relation to transport and production costs.

Dashing is passionate about supporting the British textile industry which traditionally is one of the most sustainable of all British industries. Wool comes from the indigenous sheep population which feeds on renewable grass, the dyes used at Dashing are all regulated to meet environmental standards.

At Dashing, environmental issues are highly important for the brand. The future plans of Dashing involve sourcing more sustainable British wools, and as the climate ameliorates, the fineness of indigenous yarns increases making them more comparable to imported Merino wools. The brand will continue to implement sustainable policies in production so that you can rest assured not to be haunted by guilt or even ghosts of unsustainable Christmas’ past.

Do stop by on the 29th November on Chiltern Street for some festive shopping and drinks celebrating a ‘Conscious Christmas’ before a peaceful holiday and hopefully not an unconscious new year.

All the very best,

The Dashing Team

Dashing Introduces Womenswear!

We are happy to announce that Dashing now offers womenswear made to measure. We wanted to be able to cater to the needs of any women who walk through our doors and enjoy our vast selection of cloth. Our brand is all about fusing heritage with modern technology, which is evident in our wide variety of cloth, enabling both men and women to create their unique piece of clothing using our designs.

Our womenswear Made to Measure is a contemporary synthesis of luxury and elegance, aiming to reflect our brand vision and concept as wardrobe staples. Following a made to measure service which covers the fitting and design process, where we finalise each detail to create your individual Dashing look.

Whether you are looking for a jacket for work, a wedding or just for everyday wear, our vast range of designs and stylistic choices can suit any occasion.

To ensure the perfect fit, we tailor our womenswear using a range of in house blocks sizes. We then take all your measurements against these to ensure we achieve the look and fit you require, covering every aspect from the positioning of darts, height of waist, width of lapel and length of jacket.

If you would like to create your own made to measure jacket in any of our designs, please drop us an email here or stop by our shop to get measured up at 47 Dorset Street, Marylebone.

All the very best,

The Dashing Team