After months of hard work with my Graphic Designer Steve, and the legendary photographer that is Chris Thompson, I am thrilled to say that Michelsberg Tailoring has a new website.

The hunt for fresh imagery has not been easy. We’ve shivered our arse’s off in a Fire Station in North Leeds, gotten soaked in a Paintball Centre in the Peak District, and had to get down and dirty under the bonnet of a Bentley.

I’m chuffed to bits with the finished result, so we celebrated it’s launch with a few ales at Whitelocks, a curry at Akbars and then onto Friends of Ham for ridiculously strong Belgian beers. A good night (and a shaky morning) was had by all.

We’ve also been on the telly, appearing on “Barging Round Britain with John Sergeant.”

Supposedly, there’s no such thing as bad PR, which is possibly true, as it’s brought business to my door.

That said, my ‘friends’ have taken great delight in discussing my walk, which resembles something between a ‘cowboy with piles’ and a ‘strutting Penguin.’

Check out the clip below if you want to see me action…

View on YouTube »

It’s been another great month in terms of business, and Mr Anderson (my apprentice) is growing in confidence every day.

So, last week I left him to hold the fort, whilst I headed down to London for the annual Benevolent Association Dinner, at The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors.’

I’ve blogged about this event in a previous post but in a nutshell, it’s my idea of heaven.

Merchant Taylors Hall

Around these tables sit the top brass of every serious textiles and tailoring business in the country. It’s the Oscars of my trade and the perfect place to rock my purple velvet jacket and patent dress shoes.

After a cheeky pint round the corner with Michael Smith (the soon to be retired head cutter of Kilgour) I entered 30 Threadneedle Street and let the games begin.

Invited by the cloth company Scabal to join their table, here I am having pre-dinner drinks with the gorgeous Hazel who runs their office on Savile Row.

James & Hazel

It was also great to catch up with Ricky (who does the made-to-measure for Scabal) and Paul (from Huntsman) who was sporting a particularly dashing pair of strides!

Merchant Taylors - Paul

I was seated next to a lovely Yorkshire lass by the name of Kathryn Sargent, former head-cutter at Gieves & Hawkes, who is now running her own show in Mayfair.

On my other side was Joe Woolfe, ex right-hand-man of  Nick Hart (founder of “Spencer Hart” on Savile Row) and recently appointed Head of International Brand Development at Scabal.

Joe Woolfe

He’s also personal stylist to Benedict Cumberbatch, and as the wine flowed, so did the gossip, and I picked up some very useful contacts and advice from the pair of them.

I was now firing on all cylinders and as the evening drew to a close, I made the foolish decision to keep the party going and headed off in a cab with some bright young things for cocktails at the Duck & Waffle in the Heron Tower.

My hangover was epic and thoroughly deserved.

On the up side, the days are getting longer, Spring is in the air and my birthday is around the corner.

In short, your tailor is in good spirits. Long may that continue for us all!