Dege and Skinner - Britain's Best Young Tailor 2012

Britain's Best Young Tailor 2012

Commendable that the BBC is broadcasting programmes profiling young British people who are making a mark in various trades and crafts. The latest offering was a programme to find Britain's Best Young Tailor 2012. The finalists filmed for the programme were selected from hundreds of candidates.

I wanted to see a bit more needle-and-thread action and learn a bit more of the craft, but it was an entertaining programme. The apprentices conducted a number of tailoring trials judged by tailors Mark Powell and Richard Anderson (we'll be reviewing Richard's book on the gritty world of tailoring soon).

The programme included a segment where the apprentice tailors were questioned on their knowledge. Did you know that Henry Poole created the first dinner jacket? A couple of the apprentices didn't. I won't repeat some of the answers. Even I'm blushing.

About the Winner

Emma Martin, apprentice at the Savile Row tailors Dege & Skinner, was named the winner at the end of the trials. Emma is a former student of Newham College and is hoping to complete her apprenticeship as a Coat Maker with Dege & Skinner later this year after two years of training with the late Stefano Tormambe and Dege & Skinner's Head Cutter, Peter Ward.

Congratulations Emma.

All About the Detail

I was slightly fixated on Mark Powell's details during the programme. The shoes and watch chains in particular. Anybody else?