Stewart Christie (1720)

New (Safe) Hands at Stewart Christie (1720)

Stewart Christie and Co., Edinburgh, is Scotland's oldest tailor. Founded in 1720, it recently changed ownership. Designers Daniel Fearn and Vixy Rae are now proprietors of this historic business.

The new owners are committed to continuity. To quote: 'Our wish is to remain true to our heritage and loyal clientele, whilst introducing a new generation to the skills and craftsmanship of bespoke tailoring and quality products made in Scotland.'

With heritage companies that are still a living part of British cultural history, you have to see yourself as a custodian. Mess it up and hundreds of years of history are lost. Fragile is the word, gents - no pressure. We have to play our part by supporting them with our trade. (And keeping out of those fast fashion warehouses piled high with junk clothes.)

Head cutter Terence McLelland continues as director, with Stewart Christie offering off-the-peg, made-to-measure and bespoke jackets and suits in estate and family tweeds.

Stewart Christie's Military Connection

As with all British tailors of great age, Stewart Christie's archive is stuffed with military history and they still 'look after the garments and hold the trimmings for various upgrades and replacement uniforms as well as re-lining coats for the royal guards'.

Model Oliver Monckton looks rather dashing — with nice, sensible haircut —  in the photo above (by Colin Usher in his first fashion shoot in 20 years — excellent work Colin) from Stewart Christie's Master of Ceremony Shoot to celebrate Stewart Christie's connection to British military outfitting. Oliver's wearing, they believe, a Royal Artillery Trumpeter Uniform from 1900.

Take a look at the video below and you can see other uniforms used in the shoot, as well as a sound defence of the importance of supporting Scottish craftsmanship from a happy band of creative folk.

Whisky Man in a Cape

Stewart Christie tells me that they were recently involved in a photo shoot for Whiskeria magazine, which is a quarterly magazine about whisky and related things (such as tweed) produced by The Whisky Shop.

Stewart Christie provided outfits for a piece on Charlie MacLean, whisky expert and author. Charlie looks splendid in the photo above (by the talented Christina Kernohan); exactly how you want a whisky expert to look — and an author for that matter. Charlie has written ten books on whisky. Stewart Christie officially regards Charlie as a 'true gentleman, with enough charm to float a battle ship'.

Charlie wears an Inverness Cape supplied by Stewart Christie in the photo above; a coat style falsely associated with Sherlock Holmes, who favoured an Ulster. You too could have a cape made in your choice of tweed. And then go for a country walk with these happy people (who will want to try your cape on):

In all seriousness, any man who wears a cape or cape coat hybrid is a gentleman in our eyes — perhaps heroic. I once saw Manolo Blahnik walking around Bath (his home) in an amazing full black cape. I have had nothing but utmost respect for him ever since. Manolo used to write excellent film reviews for Harper's Bazaar, I think. Or was it Tatler? Anyway, they were jolly good. I remember he wrote well of The Innocents [1961], which is a stunningly good film. I hope he watches the films in his cape.

Whiskeria Spring Edition

On the pages of the spring edition of Whiskeria magazine, you can read an interview about Stewart Christie with Daniel and Vixy.

You can also read the wise words Charlie has to say on whisky, the drink and the industry, and catch him in a splendid Harris tweed jacket and weskit supplied by Stewart Christie.  I particularly liked Charlie's idea of making distilleries duty-free zones to stimulate 'sales, visits and employment'.  Great idea, Charlie.

Get it all here.