Harris & Howard: made-to-measure confidence in Alderley Edge

Alderley Edge is no stranger to style, but few addresses in the village are as quietly influential as 8 George Street. This is the home of Harris & Howard, a bespoke tailoring house whose client list has ranged from high court judges to England footballers.

Bespoke tailoring is about far more than a good suit. It is a process, and Harris & Howard guides clients through each stage of it on the way to a finished garment. The aim of true bespoke is clothing cut for one person alone, built around their shape and the way they actually live in their clothes.

That attention to detail has made the house a natural fit for Cheshire, where weddings, race days and black-tie events fill the social calendar and many professionals want tailoring that looks the part from the boardroom to the courtroom. A suit made this way is designed to be worn, altered and loved for years, rather than replaced each season.

The business is not confined to one village. As well as its Alderley Edge showroom, Harris & Howard has a showroom in Chester city centre, giving clients in the west of the county an easy way in. It also offers a visiting service, bringing the consultation to clients who find it more convenient to be measured elsewhere.

There is an increasing appetite for this kind of considered, long-lasting clothing. Choosing a single, beautifully made garment over several cheaper ones is a choice more people are making, and bespoke tailoring is perhaps the purest expression of that idea.

The house has caught the attention of Cheshire Life, which went behind the scenes at its Alderley Edge premises. For anyone new to bespoke, a visit to a tailor's own showroom is the best way to understand the craft, and to feel at ease before the first measurements are taken.

Whether it is a wedding suit, a sharp new jacket or a complete working wardrobe, a visit to Harris & Howard is the start of a rather special collaboration.

Harris & Howard Bespoke is at 8 George Street, Alderley Edge, with a second showroom in Chester. Visit harrisandhoward.com.