Surf, Sushi and Saxon Sheep

This month, I've been on it like Wallace and Gromit. The showroom lights of Michelsberg HQ have been burning long into the night and like Scotty in Star Trek, "I've giv'n her all she's got captain, an' I canna give her no more."

There's been many an evening when I've shut up shop, my cheeks a deep red, the vein on my temple throbbing like an electric eel on steroids. It's been a mental month and for that I'm extremely grateful.

That said, all work and no play....so last week my wife and I (sans kids) headed down to Devon for some 'us' time. We set off at the crack of dawn and by midday I was sporting my favourite threads, a "C Skins" 5/3mm wetsuit.

Surfing is, and will always be, a huge part of my life. Just sitting in the ocean, I can feel the negative energy seeping out of my system, washed away by the cleansing waters of the Atlantic. After just a few waves, I'm giggling and grinning like a five year old. Mother Nature can be a cruel mistress but this time I got lucky. Blue skies, a clean two foot swell and the smell of salt in my nose. Heavenly. Utterly wonderful.

The picture below is of Saunton Sands, the spiritual home of Michelsberg Tailoring. To quote William Wordsworth, "Earth has nothing to show more fair. Dull would he be of soul who could pass by a sight so touching in its majesty."

I returned fully refuelled and ready to rock and since then it's been full steam ahead. We've delivered some absolute belters, many of which can been seen on my Facebook Page, and in amongst the fittings and day to day running of the business there's been some tasty treats along the way.

Last week Matthew Simpson, Sales Director of John Fosters, took me out for lunch and here we are at Yo! Sushi in Harvey Nichols.

He doesn't look happy because I'd just told him he was paying the bill! Matthew is the consummate Sales Professional - he's proactive, efficient, a man of discretion and over the years we've built up an excellent working relationship. I love their cloth and my last four work suits have been made-up in their Super 120's with Cashmere quality.

When it comes to Yorkshire mills, you'll find none finer and my links to them are particularly close. One of my best friend's father, used to run the business and a very close friend of my parents was a past Director. Now owned by the SIL Group they've been going since 1819 and have legendary status in Japan.

Matthew and David Gallimore (Managing Director), pictured above, are very much the driving force behind the brand and spend much of their time travelling and promoting their wares in the Middle East, Asia, and US.

As far as textile businesses go, I think they are incredibly progressive and have recently launched their 'Escorial' Bunch. I've blogged about Escorial Sheep in a previous post, a very rare, blue-blooded animal, that given half the chance, would summer in Mustique and dance badly in Chelsea nightclubs.

Their fibres are particularly 'curly' which provides a natural stretch and crease resistance to the cloth they produce. It feels divine and is, in Matthew's words, 'unapologetically expensive.'

Next month looks set to be just as full-on. It's wedding season, suits for the races, blazers for summer parties, evening wear for cruises and that means more graft for yours truly. That said, there is a week’s holiday in Portugal coming up with my family and you'll never guess what? There just happens to be a couple of cracking surfing beaches round the corner... ;-)

Wedding Bells & Summer Swells

This month I thought we'd kick things off with the meaning of life.

Maslow would have us believe it is to reach 'self-actualisation.' Robin Williams, in the film Dead Poets Society, would probably just say 'Carpe Diem.' I like the phrase 'smile and the world smiles with you' and believe, although a bit schmaltzy, that it is up to us all to find and bring as much joy into this world as possible. Sick bags anyone?

This month the pressure has been on delivering a crazy amount of wedding suits and at times I've felt like I was running on empty. But in amongst the chasing of coat makers, cloth merchants and pressers, there have been some truly lovely moments.

As many of you know, I'm not shy about complimenting our own work but it is a real rush when a customer grins in the mirror at final fitting, we shake hands and they say thank you. I've had some really touching emails and notes, and one such ray of sunshine in my inbox went as follows:

"It has been an absolute joy to know and work with you and the whole experience has been fantastic from start to finish. The finished article is something I shall wear with pride and I couldn't have asked for a more amazing wedding suit.

You're a top bloke and Lisa and I wish you all the very best with the business and your growing family."

Just what you need on a Monday morning.

And last week I received this picture from the recently married Mr & Mrs Arkle.



James is a rugby player with the shoulders and legs of an ox and the waist of a beaver. He wanted something seriously fitted along the lines of Tom Ford but was struggling to find something that fit.

I think we did rather well. The cut is a classic one button, with a shawl lapel in the finest silk. The cloth, a wonderfully traditional black Barathea, is set off with a silver silk lining and a few Michelsberg touches to provide the proverbial cherry on top. In short, a veritable Bobby Dazzler. And don't they look happy! :-)

I am lucky in the fact that my working life does provide me with a great deal of satisfaction, but like all businesses there are still problems and hassles to be dealt with and at times you just need a break to re-charge.

So, last week, it was my turn to shut up shop and go away in search of some joyful moments of my own, and my god, I found them. The destination, Croyde Bay in North Devon and this was the view from my bedroom window.



If you don't know already, one of the biggest loves in my life is surfing and is one of the rare moments when I actually stop talking. That first wave at Saunton Sands washed off six months of hard graft and was food for the soul.

As I slid along a perfectly peeling right-hander on my ten foot noserider, time stood still. I felt weightless and totally connected to nature. After what felt like hours, I kicked out, dropped under the water, and returned to the surface, grinning like a madman. I screamed out in sheer bloody happiness, the hiss and smell of salt water all around me, the sun sparkling down on the crashing surf.

If the meaning of life is finding joy, then that moment was it and I'd trade in all the bespoke suits in the world to have it again.

Other highlights included early - and I do mean early - morning walks with my little girl Avy (pictured below), and dinner with my wife Nikki, whilst the baby-sitters did their duty. Thanks Rosemary & Colin!



Yes, I return to the wicked world of work with my batteries full, in search of future smiles and Maslow's finest.

Gone Surfin'

Like Frank Bough, I am happiest in life when I am dressed from head to toe in rubber. Whilst bespoke tailoring gets me fired up, it is surfing that calms my soul and here I am near Croyde Bay in North Devon having a well earned rest after what has been a hectic start to 2008.

Six years ago I left a lucrative job in London for a 'year out' in Australia - the plan was to get a job in Sydney but after two weeks down under, I bought a McTavish longboard in Byron Bay and lived the life of a surf bum for twelve wonderful months.

Whilst chilling out on the beach was great, it became clear that I needed more from life and consider myself extremely lucky to now earn a living doing something I genuinely love.

For those of you who have never tried surfing, do it. Whilst many surfers moan about the growing commercialisation of the sport and the increasing number of new surfers overcrowding lineups, it is a truly magical feeling and (like wearing a bespoke suit) should be experienced by as many people as possible.

It is not just the mind-blowing feeling of catching and sliding down a wave but just being in the ocean and embracing good old Mother Nature - looking out to the horizon, waiting for the next set to come through, the sun sparkling on the water, sheer bliss.

So, after searching for perfect waves, I am now back in Yorkshire, tanned, taught and terrific and ready to continue my quest to make the perfect suit.