Harrisons1863 Vs. Harrisons Burley Vs. Fox Borthers Vs. Huddersfield fabrics for a bespoke suit

[Meitar Atias]

Hello everyone,

I am currently having a hard time choosing between the fabric companies mentioned above for a bespoke suit.
I am mostly looking for a versatile, vintage-looking worsted flannel/high twist wool.
After going through, honestly, thousands of their options I have managed to narrow the options down to approximately 100.
My main concern is - is one of these companies especially recommended? higher quality in ways that truly justify sticking with them?
For example, Fox brothers have similar worsted flannels to those I like at Harrisons Burley, however, they're 5 times more expensive - is it justified?

I am quite overwhelmed and would truly appreciate any help! <3
I've attached 3 fairly similar flannels to further emphasize my point.

 

[Meitar Atias]

Thanks ahead!

 

[jonathanS]

have you felt any of the fabrics?

 

[Eucris]

Hello everyone,

I am currently having a hard time choosing between the fabric companies mentioned above for a bespoke suit.
I am mostly looking for a versatile, vintage-looking worsted flannel/high twist wool.
After going through, honestly, thousands of their options I have managed to narrow the options down to approximately 100.
My main concern is - is one of these companies especially recommended? higher quality in ways that truly justify sticking with them?
For example, Fox brothers have similar worsted flannels to those I like at Harrisons Burley, however, they're 5 times more expensive - is it justified?

I am quite overwhelmed and would truly appreciate any help! <3
I've attached 3 fairly similar flannels to further emphasize my point.

Personally, I don't think the price difference is justified. If you're after a vintage flannel (circa 400g), then I would urge you to consider this instead:

100% WOOL WORSTED, CHARCOAL PLAIN, VINTAGE FLANNEL STYLE - MADE IN ENGLAND • Harrisons Burley

I have a suit made from a similar cloth however mine was manufactured by Hield. Its a great robust fabric with a smooth hand. BTW, the Harrisons Burley cloth is very similar.

 

[classicalthunde]

I think the consensus is to defer to your tailor and their recommendation if you do not necessarily have a strong leaning one way or the other.

Recently ordered a suit from Harrison/Smith Woollen’s high twist finmeresco. I don’t have it in hand yet, but I like the shade and feel of the swatch more than any other fabric.

Harrison’s portfolio is huge, they should have almost anything you could probably want.

If I was going for woolen flannel I would consider Fox. I also am weighing their Fox Sport hopsack for a sport coat if the price isn’t too prohibitively expensive. Most of the time tailors get far better pricing than is advertised to regular consumers.

 

[Meitar Atias]

have you felt any of the fabrics?

Unfortunately not. I'm from Israel and all wools here are imported from Italy, there are very few suiting fabrics shops (1-2) and they have low-quality wools.

 

[Meitar Atias]

I think the consensus is to defer to your tailor and their recommendation if you do not necessarily have a strong leaning one way or the other.

Recently ordered a suit from Harrison/Smith Woollen’s high twist finmeresco. I don’t have it in hand yet, but I like the shade and feel of the swatch more than any other fabric.

Harrison’s portfolio is huge, they should have almost anything you could probably want.

If I was going for woollen flannel I would consider Fox. I also am weighing their Fox Sport hopsack for a sport coat if the price isn’t too prohibitively expensive. Most of the time tailors get far better pricing than is advertised to regular consumers.

As previously mentioned, my tailor is in touch with the local suit fabric shops in Tel-Aviv, the only really nice fabrics here are cottons and linens, the only wool here is the so called "cool-wool" and there are't flannels/tweeds. I found a beautiful herringbone tweed in Tel Aviv and got trousers made from it, and it turned out to be of terrible quality.
My point being - my tailor recommended that we'd get the wools from abroad.
I wanted to narrow down my 100+ options before discussing with him, and to order the relevant samples as well.

 

[Meitar Atias]

Personally, I don't think the price difference is justified. If you're after a vintage flannel (circa 400g), then I would urge you to consider this instead:

100% WOOL WORSTED, CHARCOAL PLAIN, VINTAGE FLANNEL STYLE - MADE IN ENGLAND • Harrisons Burley

I have a suit made from a similar cloth however mine was manufactured by Hield. Its a great robust fabric with a smooth hand. BTW, the Harrisons Burley cloth is very similar.

Thanks for the suggestion. However, since it's super hot in here, my tailor recommended choosing fabrics around the 300-330g weight. winter lasts here for 2 months and temperatures only reach around 5C degrees.

 

[Meitar Atias]

I think the consensus is to defer to your tailor and their recommendation if you do not necessarily have a strong leaning one way or the other.

Recently ordered a suit from Harrison/Smith Woollen’s high twist finmeresco. I don’t have it in hand yet, but I like the shade and feel of the swatch more than any other fabric.

Harrison’s portfolio is huge, they should have almost anything you could probably want.

If I was going for woolen flannel I would consider Fox. I also am weighing their Fox Sport hopsack for a sport coat if the price isn’t too prohibitively expensive. Most of the time tailors get far better pricing than is advertised to regular consumers.

They truly have a huge portfolio. How are they in terms of prices compared to fox?
Speaking of Fimmeresco - I am heavily considering this one ;-)

 

[classicalthunde]

They truly have a huge portfolio. How are they in terms of prices compared to fox?
Speaking of Fimmeresco - I am heavily considering this one ;-)

View attachment 1617513

I’m fairly certain that the high twist wools are identical or at least very very similar to the stuff in the Drapers Ascot book, which is from an Italian merchant/mill. You may see if your tailor has access or an opinion on that bunch.

I would imagine in terms of trade prices, the Smith Woollens and Fox stuff is pretty comparable. Harrison’s doesn’t sell directly to consumers, and Fox marks their consumer sales up probably ~2x compared to tailor prices

 

[jonathanS]

I’m fairly certain that the high twist wools are identical or at least very very similar to the stuff in the Drapers Ascot book, which is from an Italian merchant/mill. You may see if your tailor has access or an opinion on that bunch.

I would imagine in terms of trade prices, the Smith Woollens and Fox stuff is pretty comparable. Harrison’s doesn’t sell directly to consumers, and Fox marks their consumer sales up probably ~2x compared to tailor prices

I’m not sure Smith sells to individuals. You’re severely limited. I would just save the money and go to a reputable tailor.

 

[Meitar Atias]

I’m not sure Smith sells to individuals. You’re severely limited. I would just save the money and go to a reputable tailor.

My tailor is the most reputable tailor in Israel. Unfortunately, bespoke tailoring isn't very requested here and while there are some really nice kinds of cotton and linens in Tel Aviv, but I'm not pleased with the wools.
Therefore, ordering the right woolen fabrics from abroad is necessary.
I mostly wish to know if harrisons burley are good enough/should I opt for Fox/Harrisons1863?
My tailor says he bought fabrics from Fox Brothers in the past.

 

[Eucris]

My tailor is the most reputable tailor in Israel. Unfortunately, bespoke tailoring isn't very requested here and while there are some really nice kinds of cotton and linens in Tel Aviv, but I'm not pleased with the wools.
Therefore, ordering the right woolen fabrics from abroad is necessary.
I mostly wish to know if harrisons burley are good enough/should I opt for Fox/Harrisons1863?
My tailor says he bought fabrics from Fox Brothers in the past.

Any of them will be fine. The fabrics made by Harrisons of Burley are of good quality and comparable with that of other makers.

 

[Meitar Atias]

Any of them will be fine. The fabrics made by Harrison's of Burley are of good quality and comparable with that of other makers.

Thank you!!! That's a relief