The Coat Route

Craft, Luxury, and Obsession on the trail of a $50,000 coat

Meg Lukens Noonan

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Paperback

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English

Scribe Publications
26 June 2013

Industrial: Commercial Art & Design; Fashion & society

Fascinating, surprising, and entertaining, The Coat Route is a timely love song to things of lasting value in our disposable culture.

In today's world of fast fashion, is there a place for a handcrafted $50,000 coat?

To answer that question, Meg Noonan unravels the story of the coat's provenance. Her journey takes readers to the Sydney studio of John Cutler, a fourth-generation tailor who works magic with scissors and thread; to the remote mountains of Peru, where villagers shear vicunas (a rare animal known for its soft fleece); to the fabulous Florence headquarters of Stefano Ricci, the world's greatest silk designer; to the esteemed French textile company Dormeuil; to the English button factory that makes products out of Indian buffalo horn; and to the workshop of the engraver who made the 18-carat gold plaque that sits inside the collar.

These individual artisans and family-owned companies are part of the rich tapestry of bespoke tailoring, which began in 17th-century London. They have stood against the tide of mass consumerism, but their dedication to their craft is about more than maintaining tradition; they have found increasing reason to believe that their way is best - for customers, for the environment, and for the workers involved.

Fascinating, surprising, and entertaining, The Coat Route is a timely love song to things of lasting value in our disposable culture.

By: Meg Lukens Noonan
Imprint: Scribe Publications
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 208mm, Width: 136mm, Spine: 23mm
Weight: 262g
ISBN: 9781922070432
ISBN 10: 1922070432
Publication Date: 26 June 2013
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Reviews for The Coat Route: Craft, Luxury, and Obsession on the trail of a $50,000 coat

"""A spirited tour of fashion history . . . ""The Coat Route"" compels us to remember that behind every garment is a deep history and a pair of human hands--whether those hands stitched the dress's hem or pulled a lever that stringed together that $30 must-have jacket.""--""The Wall Street Journal"""" "" ""Delightful . . . ""The Coat Route"" celebrates those who work with their hands, creating something beautiful and lasting.""--""The Seattle Times"""" "" ""[Meg Lukens Noonan's] exploration of the business of fashion is fascinating and thorough, and her examination of bespoke goods redefines the words luxury and obsession.""--The Daily Beast ""Traditions of bespoke tailoring (and other related crafts) are skirting the edge of extinction. Noonan's delightful story makes us hope they endure.""--""Publishers Weekly"""" "" ""Lush writing and eagle-eyed reportage uncloak the insular world of bespoke fashion. . . . Globe-trekking travel writer Noonan is well-equipped to bridge the chasm and bring back a narrative every bit as finely rendered as the title's subject. Outfitted with an infectious curiosity and enviable eye for detail, the seasoned correspondent executes a sartorial odyssey that spans a remarkable portion of the planet. The fantastic journey is both fast-paced and rich.""--""Kirkus Reviews"" ""A fabulous story, brilliantly told . . . I couldn't have enjoyed it more.""--Bill Bryson ""As captivating as any mystery or thriller, ""The Coat Route"" demystifies the rarefied universe of bespoke tailoring and provides a lens into the culture that covets it. It educates and inspires. I couldn't put it down!""--Tim Gunn ""If there's anything as unlikely--or as unnecessary--as a $50,000 overcoat, I'm not aware of it. But if there's anything more interesting than a book about the worldwide network of vicuna ranchers, button makers, silkworm breeders, gold engravers, pattern weavers, and master tailors who make such a coat possible, I hope someone as"