One of the most pertinent questions to ask when embarking on a course of study is ‘Where will it lead me?’
Well, Duane MacLeod, 2023 graduate of our first intake for the International Programme, has just shown how he puts his new skills into practice, in the most fulfilling way: by starting his own business.
As reported in the fall edition of Threads Magazine and also picked up by Robb Report, since leaving the academy, Duane didn’t miss a beat: along with his new company Hold Fast Bespoke, he set up his tailoring workshop, kitting it out with the tools and equipment he had become familiar with during his time in our workroom, and got to work.
Using the industry contacts he established during his time in Britain, he was able to liaise with suppliers he knew would provide him with the heritage cloth and trimmings he had become accustomed to work with: custom coated wool cloth from Holland & Sherry in the Scottish Borders region and horse hair canvas from Dugdale Bros in West Yorkshire, to name just a few.
Linking up with long-standing clothiers David Wood in his local Portland, Maine, Duane was able to take his bespoke offer to a wider audience, and is now catering for discerning customers appreciative of his unique skills set. Duane’s hand-sewn, fully canvassed jackets now start at $3,200, with accompanying trousers at $1,350.
If that isn’t making good use of talent, ingenuity and competence, we don’t know what is.
Where would your tailoring journey take you? Get in touch and let us know:
