Fashion Revolution

Fashion Revolution Week is an annual event and global movement that prompts brands and consumers to respond to the question “Who made my clothes?” in order to demonstrate transparency in the supply chain and learn more about where their clothes are made. Here at Rundle Tailoring we have always been proud to support our local community by providing jobs to skilled garment workers. We have been manufacturing suits in Newcastle since 1908 and as the last remaining suit factory of our size that still produces in Australia, we take great pride in employing many highly skilled tailors and seamstresses that work with us giving our clients a genuine authentic made to measure experience. With their help Rundle Tailoring will continue delivering ethically produced, Australian made garments of the finest quality to our community.

Over our 110 years we have made thousands of made to measure suits and dressed generations of Novocastrians and people all over Australia for business, weddings, special occasions and community events. Along with carefully crafting bespoke suits, sports coats, blazers, trousers and vests we also specialise in tailor-made Scottish Jackets in Prince Charlie, Argyle and Craille styles and band jackets, as well as made to measure women’s business suits  and corporate attire.

All our made to measure garments are made from the finest international fabrics, such as Holland and Sherry and Dormeuil, and come with the Australian Made Campaign tick of approval. Our customers can take a look behind the showroom curtain in our shop, and see our experienced tailors, cutters and sewers working away, producing their clothing with great workmanship and quality. This ensures our clients have complete confidence they are walking away with a locally made suit they will love for years to come and looking professional in ethically produced, premium clothing that we can be proud of, as a community and as a country.

We also have a range of Rundle Tailoring suits and sports coats available ready to wear on the show room floor that are made by our talented tailors and seamstresses.

This year, Rundle Tailoring will be taking part in the @slowwearingwell #whomademyclothes Walking Trail across Newcastle for Fashion Revolution Week. This is a great campaign offering members of the local Newcastle community, an opportunity to take a tour of the Rundle Tailoring factory and work space and get the chance to meet and chat with Andrew Rundle, fourth generation tailor and co-owner of the family business. The walking trail will also take participants across Newcastle city, bringing to attention the other talented business owners and operators, designers and craftspeople that are manufacturing in-store and on-site, providing sustainable clothing solutions, sharing skills and education. It will be a strong conclusion to Fashion Revolution Week, taking place on Saturday 27^th April. If you are interested in this morning of exploring local Newcastle fashion producers and learning about their craft, you can buy your ticket by clicking here.

Newcastle is a very supportive community to the local clothing industry. We highly value our local and national customers, some of whom have been clients of ours for decades. Our clients leave our store in a suit crafted specifically to their needs from the finest fabrics, knowing that their made to measure suit has gone through each and every step of its production right here on site at our factory in Newcastle. They have supported our local economy with local workers and jobs and Australian manufacturing. We are very grateful for the continued support of all our valued clients.

Fashion Revolution is important to Rundle Tailoring and we challenge our community this Fashion Revolution week to investigate “who made my clothes?

To experience our excellence service, support your local community, celebrate transparency and champion Australian made products, and book an appointment with Rundle Tailoring today.

This Fashion Revolution Week we have gone to some of our highly respected made to measure clients in the Newcastle community and asked them, “Who made your clothes?” Read the stories from each of our valued clients below.

Fashion Revolution Week runs from 22-28 April 2019. For more information visit fashionrevolution.org/.

Our Made to Measure Clients

Giles Coakes

Giles Coakes is a retired Federal Circuit Court Judge, who now mediates and arbitrates in family matters and has been a Rundle Tailoring made to measure client for more than 33 years. He says his favourite suit is a grey pin stripe double breasted suit, due to its comfort and timelessness. “A young man commented on the train the other day ‘Very sharp’, I think it is a modern expression,” Giles says with a laugh.

Along with many a good reason, Giles says most importantly, it’s the time we spend making sure the suit is right that makes him choose Rundle Tailoring for his made to measure suits.  Personal service, good advice, choice of materials, careful measurements and fittings also don’t go astray. Unparalleled personal service, a feeling of being a special customer and delivering an excellent product made to last and something he can wear time and time again anywhere is what makes Giles return.

Anthony Birt

Anthony Birt is a Newcastle Real Estate Agent and has been one of our made to measure clients for 10 years, over which time he has had 12 suits made. “I wear a suit 6 days a week, and in my industry, presentation and first impressions really matter, so I take my suits very seriously,” says Anthony. “As well as the perfect fit, I really like knowing that my suit is unique.”

Over the years, Anthony has had many a favourite Rundle Tailoring suit, but looking back his first made to measure suit – a striking blue stripe Dormeuil Amadeus – is still a stand out.

“It’s still a timeless, hard-wearing classic that hasn’t dated.  I always get compliments when I wear it,” he says. “I don’t know why, but it seems to always catch people’s eye, and it’s always the one I try to replicate when I have a new suit made.”

Anthony says that he believes Rundle Tailoring is an important part of the history and heritage in Newcastle and that our unique skillset as the last locally manufactured tailor in Australia puts us well above the rest. Supporting local employment in the clothing industry is as important to Anthony as it is to Rundle Tailoring.  Anthony first came to Rundle Tailoring after his wife recommended our business. “Being tall and thin, I struggled to ever find a suit that fit me properly and looked good,” he says. “I was impressed by the huge fabric selection.”

Our employees take the utmost care and labor to create a bespoke and high quality experience for our clients.

Dr Nicholas Moncrieff

Dr Nicholas Moncrieff believes focus aids mastery, that is why he is one of only a handful of plastic surgeons in Australia who focuses on aesthetic body surgery for women. He has been one of our made to measure clients for 2 years and says he keeps coming back because the quality is excellent and the suits are locally made, which is important to him. “I like that Andrew is so hands on and takes such pride in his work. His job is a little like mine – measuring, cutting and sewing and making people happy!” He says his first ever suit was one from Country Road, which “seemed pretty flash at the time!” His favourite suit now is one that his wife, Amber Moncrieff, secretly ordered for him from Rundle Tailoring for his birthday last year, and the colour was chosen through a poll on their Instagram! We highly value and admire Dr Moncrieff’s continued support of Rundle Tailoring and the local Newcastle community.

Fiona Leathem

Fiona first made enquiries into made to measure suiting while holidaying in Hong Kong. Realising she didn’t have enough lead time while abroad to have the suits made, she followed up her enquiries when she returned home to Newcastle. Her search continually brought her back to Rundle Tailoring and she has since had three suits made in the past 12 months. “Once I entered the store and spoke with Andrew I felt I had made the right choice,” Fiona says, adding that the quality, service, pricing and personal touch will keep her coming back in the years to come.

“Rundle Tailoring even offered to have one of my suits delivered so as to not inconvenience me. They have also personalised my suits by embroidering my name inside the lining,” she says.

In Fiona’s role as Director of People and Culture at City of Newcastle a professional look is important and Fiona says she feels comfortable and confident when wearing her Rundle Tailoring suits.

At Rundle Tailoring we provide personal service to each of our clients and locally manufacture all our made to measure suits right here in Newcastle. Fiona has been more than happy with our service and says she knows women’s made to measure suiting isn’t as popular as men’s but Rundle Tailoring were able to deliver exactly what she was after.

James Janke & Drew Hamilton

James Janke admires bespoke service, which is why he chose Rundle Tailoring for his made to measure suiting needs. James is a Criminal Lawyer at Hamilton Janke Lawyers in Newcastle and has been one of our clients for the last year.

James’ favourite Rundle Tailoring suit is his pinstripe made to measure suit. “Dress trends are cyclical, and Rundle Tailoring helps us stay ahead of the cycle rather than behind it”.

As we are the last locally manufactured tailor in the region, we are able to provide James with access to the finest fabrics, so he can stay on trend while feeling sharp in a made to measure suit that is ethically produced. James’ partner, Drew Hamilton, who is also one of our clients, says: “Our firm chooses to be dressed by Rundle Tailoring as we enjoy the balance that Rundles strike between the tradition and history of this Newcastle family business paired against a modern suiting approach who accommodate our every request. It is most pleasing to know that I am purchasing suits from a local family operated business in just the same way my father and grandfather did many years ago,” he says.

Todd Mason

Todd Mason is a Real Estate Agent and heard about Rundle Tailoring from one of his colleagues at his first Real Estate business. He came in to try out our garments 10 years ago and has been coming back ever since. Todd says he finds the cut of a made to measure suit to be much better than a ready to wear suit and he continues to come back to Rundle Tailoring because “the staff are great and always helpful, and the suits are great quality.” At Rundle Tailoring, Todd is able to choose from the best fabrics that will perform well for his needs, “I am hard on my suits so I need a strong fabric that will stand up to the type of work I do,” he tells us. Quality is something we pride ourselves on here at Rundle Tailoring, along with being the only locally manufactured tailor in Australia, equipped to cater to all your suiting needs.

James Callender

James Callender is an Acquisition Manager at NIB Health Funds and a self-professed “suit man”.

He started his Rundle Tailoring journey back in 1999 when he was in Year 2 and got his first ever suit, a junior tuxedo for a debutante ball. He has been a made to measure client since 2014, stating: “my first Rundle Tailoring made to measure suit was for my graduation, my second was for a promotion. I look forward to the day when my third is for a wedding.” He became a client after a recommendation from his boss, who ensured him we would provide the quality and care he required, all while still focusing on being locally manufactured.

“At the time I was working for a local accounting firm and my boss, Denis, was a loyal Rundles made to measure customer. As a man who wore a suit for the majority of his working career, I asked him for advice on where I should go for a smart suit. He said ‘James, go and see Andrew at Rundles and tell him that I sent you’. As I stepped back into the Hunter Street store, the memories of 1999 returned but this time there was no disappointment as I didn’t need to give it back. It was mine to keep. I still wear this plain black single button to formal and business occasions,” James says.

James has a number of favourites when it comes to his made to measure suits. “For me, suits aren’t just garments, they are a stitch in time for a memory in mind,” he says.

“My favourite Rundles made to measure suit is dark navy. I bought this suit for myself following an internal promotion which gave me the opportunity to further my career in Sydney. The short coat, tapered leg and dual button make it a versatile corporate staple and a dynamic smart casual accessory.”

When asked what keeps James returning to Rundle Tailoring, he says it’s the unparalleled made to measure customer service that the Rundles team provides that keeps him travelling from Sydney to Newcastle. “I value the enduring quality, attention to detail, and Novocastrian historical significance that Rundles represents,” he says.

Newcastle University Sport

Newcastle University Sport has been a valued client with Rundle Tailoring for their sporting blazers since the 1960’s! NUsport manages the sporting facilities and programs on the local Callaghan Campus, as well as organising and presenting the annual University of Newcastle Sports Awards. At these award presentations, Blue and Colour recipients are presented with a Rundle Tailoring made to measure sporting blazer which they take great pride in receiving. We have the pleasure of providing made to measure uniforms for a number of national and international sports teams, bands, clubs and schools who value the Australian made service that Rundle Tailoring provide. Joeleene Cheviot, Executive Coordinator at NUsport, says the reason the company keeps coming back to Rundle Tailoring is due to “the professionalism of the staff, the quality of the jackets and the quick turnaround time making the jackets”. Here at Rundle Tailoring we take great pride in providing these sporting blazers to such an integral area of the University of Newcastle.

James Thomson

James Thomson is a Senior Adviser and regulations for the Australian Industry Group BEng (Elec) MPA

He has become a loyal customer with Rundle Tailoring over the past 5 years as he loves the idea of a unique suit made especially for him and the personal service he receives from Andrew and the team. The fact that the made to measure suit is Australian made by a family business with such rich experience and heritage in Newcastle is also a reason James chooses Rundle Tailoring for his suits.

“My job involves a lot of travel. I’ll be regularly meeting with small clients and then the next day senior government officials. Rundle Tailoring was able to advise me on the fabric and style of suit that was ideal for my needs,” James says.

James is a busy man, and highly values the bespoke and quality service we provide at Rundle Tailoring. “Andrew and his team are genuinely passionate about what they do and go out of their way to ensure their customers are satisfied,” he says.

We love to create connections with our valued customers that we know will keep them coming back to Rundle Tailoring for years to come.