Well-fitting trousers can be hard to find, especially off the peg. They are the one garment that benefit from being tailor-made to fit. Too often we see men wearing trousers that are too long or too short in the leg, or over-large around the waist and seat. An excellent middle ground between shop-bought and tailored trousers is to buy them made to order from Spencers Trousers in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire (link below).
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| Dark blue corduroy trousers made for me by Spencers Trousers, Yorkshire |
I approached Spencers recently as I wanted to feature them here on the blog. They kindly offered to make to two pairs for the feature. Ordering on their website is easy and there is a good selection of cloths available. I suggest measuring a favourite pair of trousers, although if this isn't possible a phone call or e-mail will receive friendly and good advice on fit from Nigel and Abigail, who run the factory.
I selected dark blue cord and a herringbone check tweed - both pleated with turn-ups. I was delighted with them when they arrived (very promptly). The materials are excellent and they exceeded expectations in terms of fit, which for me was a comfortable waist and thigh tapering to a slim ankle opening.
As Nigel says below, you can discuss the detail of your requirements with them and can go for very classic/vintage but increasingly contemporary details like deep turn-ups and fish-tail backs if required. All in all, I highly recommend Spencers; with prices for trousers starting at around £150 they are good value and the service is friendly, helpful and prompt (it is Yorkshire after all!)
I asked Nigel and Abigail to tell me more:
ST: We are Nigel and Abigail, we have been involved in the business for 30 years, starting at the very bottom and working our way up. After the sad loss of our mentor Alan Oldfield, a year before our centenary, we took the decision to continue his legacy and have now taken over the mantle.
GF: I was delighted with my Spencers Trousers and it's wonderful that you make these in Yorkshire to individual order - please tell us where you are based and something of the history of the company.
ST: The business was founded by Reggie Spencer who manufactured garments for the gas board alongside his made to measure service. After Reggie's retirement Alan Oldfield took over the reigns and moved in a different direction, Alan had cut his teeth on Savile Row as a trouser cutter, The Northern Soul scene was gathering momentum and he saw a niche to cater for their specific individual requirements, all the better to dance and pose in! They came from all over the country to the famous Wigan Casino and this is how the mail order business began. Alan realised that this was now the modern way for men to shop and enhanced his range to golfing plus twos and fours and shooting breeks. All individually cut and made to order here in Yorkshire with a turn around of 7 days. The word spread and we now manufacture to countries all over world for the discerning gentlemen.
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| Herringbone tweed trousers made by Spencers Trousers |
GF: What products do you offer and how does it work selling these online? How much latitude is there for customers' individual requirements?
ST: We are a made to measure, mail order company, we sell direct from our comprehensive website but of course we are always at the end of the telephone if you prefer to speak to a real life person. We make individual pairs to customers own specific requirements here in Yorkshire with traditional fabrics. Our skilled workforce have many years experience and are able to accommodate most requests. Our customers either embrace their own style details or perhaps they have a specific health issue which excludes them from a ready made garment. As everything is done in house we are able to facilitate their needs exclusively. We manufacture trousers, plus twos, plus fours and breeks in traditional fabrics, we have found recently that new customers are seeking a British Made garment from a company with heritage, classic styles are experiencing a resurgence, fish tail backs, twin pleats, deep turn ups.
GF: Please tell us about the range of cloths available.
This part of Yorkshire has a long history, this valley was a meeting point of the Lancashire cotton trade and the West Riding Woollen industry - this union produced unique fabrics, Fustians, Corduroy, Moleskins, valued for their hard wearing qualities and of course Wools from Huddersfield.
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| Pleats and waistband - Spencers Trousers detail |
GF: What process will each order go through to make trousers to the customer's order?
Once a fabric and style has been chosen by the customer they immediately go into production, the garment is individually hand cut, taken to the sewing room where the garment is overlocked, trimmings added before the actual making up begins, each garment will be made through to the end by the same person. Once complete it will be pressed, packed and dispatched all within 10-14 days.
GF: Do you have any plans for the future of the company?
ST: We have great faith in our product and integrity, we have every intension of continuing our personal service direct to our customers - after all if you enjoy your job you never work a day in your life!
To find out more and to order your trousers, go to Spencers Trousers.
Spencers Trousers made me a couple of pairs to order to review for this feature.
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