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We do not have more than one "quality". Whether my work is machine sewn, hand finished, or hand sewn, the quality of the final product will be the same. Whether clothing is for a museum, or a wedding, or a fancy dress party, the quality will be the same. Whether for a man, a woman, or a child, the quality will be the same. You get the point, I trust!!! As to the question of 'what is the quality our clothes are made to?' - to give an idea, well used, but well cared for clothing that I made ten years ago is still going strong. I do not have a size range as such - I can make clothing for you if you are tiny, or if you are on the large side, and I do not charge extra for non-standard people, or for smaller or larger people. The price I quote you will be the price you pay, (assuming you don't suddenly decide that you no longer want linen, but hand cut silk velvet, for example!). Normal "made to measure" clothing, (such as one would find in a high street store), involves taking a few measurements, and adapting an existing pattern to those measurements. I do not do this. I make true 'bespoke' clothing. That means that I cut a new pattern from scratch for every customer. Therefore, you can choose exactly the garment you want - you can specify everything, right down to the buttons! Occasionally, however, I am asked to make outfits in standard sizes (usually in situations where the clothes have to fit more than one person). This is not a problem - I am perfectly happy to do so, and customers requiring this are still able to specify all the other details if they choose to. |
| Although my work name is Deborah Lough Costumes, and I'm happy to be known as a historical costumer, please do not fall under the misapprehension that my clothes are costume in the sense of most fancy dress (not that there's anything wrong with fancy dress). The bulk of my work is bespoke, made to measure, historical clothing, literally covering from prehistoric times to the present day, or "Neolithic to Now". I can cater for the widest time span possible, and for many periods that other costumers are unable to supply, for one reason or another, including modern bespoke clothing. My work is used by museums, for live or static display, guided tours, or for educational work; by TV and theatre companies and actors requiring true historical garments; by re-enactors and living historians; by brides, grooms and wedding guests looking for something 'different'; by collectors; and probably by people I haven't thought of yet, for reasons I haven't thought of yet! And yes, it is used as fancy dress, too! |
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| I am fortunate to have access to an extensive library, detailing many, many original sources. Clearly I also have access to the internet! (And I'm lucky enough to have a husband who's moderately obsessed with military and uniform history.) Whichever period I am working in, I apply the same research methods, and the same thoroughness, to all projects that I undertake. I do not charge extra for historical research if you are buying clothing, although I do charge for the research alone. I have written about some of my research in the gallery pages. I am able, availability of correct materials allowing, to produce exact replicas of extant garments in museums. However, I much prefer to base my designs on a number of sources, including extant garments and illustrations, unless I have the permission of the museum in question to make a copy. When I do make an exact replica, I put an identifying mark on the finished article, so that it cannot be confused with an original. Having trained in fashion design, I am also able to design unique modern clothing, for weddings, evening wear, and proms, etc - often historically inspired to a greater or lesser extent. I'll be adding some more info on this to the site in due course, but in the meantime, the ordering process is the same as for historical clothing (click here to read how to order). |
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| Every single piece of clothing that I sell is made (by me) in Britain. We do not sell any clothing items made by any third party, unless otherwise agreed in advance. |
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