Tailoring his career to suit his ambitions

For many of us, one job is quite frankly enough. Perhaps you leave what you’re really passionate about until the weekend and enjoy it then. But Scott Caddick, the man behind Colmore Tailors, goes the extra mile.

Colmore Tailors, Birmingham’s only out-of-hours visiting tailor specialists, aim to provide a personal tailoring service at times which work for you, like evenings and weekends.

Scott Caddick, from Lichfield, founded the company over a year ago, but the tailoring venture isn’t his only job. He is also a buyer and works long days during the week, however he discovered his real passion a few years ago and decided to make it his main priority.

“When I saw young people with baggy jeans I got thinking, it just doesn’t look right. I’m very much a perfectionist and I think it drives everyone around me mad but I always think I can do better,” said Scott. “That is what drew me towards tailoring.”

So how does he cope with two jobs? Scott said: “Although they’re different jobs, they work alongside each other well in the sense that there is a lot of negotiating and sourcing products and building relationships.

“Ultimately, if you can’t build relationships and understanding, then you will never grow a business and it can be frustrating, but it’s all about learning how to manage your time and needs.”

Suit1

He said: “We cover pretty much the whole of the Midlands, but there are areas that I will travel to, like Oxford. A lot of the people I meet with often are middle aged and have a professional job like a barrister. They want to put something on and just know that they look good. However, they still want value for money.”

Scott particularly enjoys the sociable side. He said: “I love sitting down with people but the best bit is when someone walks in, when you’ve had a phone conversation briefly about what they want, and then them coming in and seeing if what you had in mind matches what they would like.

“Usually, by the time someone comes in, I’ve already got it into my head what it’s going to look like and how it’s going to fit.”

Suit3But what makes someone go to a tailor in the first place? “You get those who struggle to find things on the high street and you’ve got those who know that they look better in something that fits them really well,” Scott said.

“Others just want to be a bit showier. For many, there is a feeling that goes with a tailored suit and it is one where you stand a little taller and have more confidence. A suit should make you feel comfortable but also makes you feel good about yourself.”

If he could dress anyone in the world, Scott’s first choice avoided the obvious celebrity choices.

“My dream customer would be my dad!,” he said. “He’d be really difficult and awkward and he would be a challenge. I would love to dress someone like Jude Law too, he’s got style and he mixes things up, he knows the rules but knows how to break them too.

Scott has a good idea about the future of Colmore Tailors too. He said: “I think about suits all day every day and what I can do to the website and the business and what I can do next. I would love for my tailoring passion to become my full-time job, but I don’t want to rush into anything.”

Suit4** WITH wedding season in full swing, Scott gave his tips on how to look good during the “I do’s”.

“It all depends on the person and the location,” he said. “For a groom at a typical English wedding, I’d say wool. The weight affects how heavy it is and how it reacts. But a 9-10oz suit is perfect as with a wedding suit, you’ll be wearing it all day so you want something that is going to look good in photos, but not be too heavy.”

“A lot of people at the moment like broken up suits. They want them to be designed in a way that they can split them up and wear them again. Turn ups are big at the moment, but if you’re short, stay away from them and if you carry weight on your hips, avoid patch pockets.”

If you’re a guest at a wedding, make sure you’re not outdoing the main man. Scott said: “If you want to stay safe, wear navy. But you need to be more casual than the groom. If you have dark hair, you’ll look much better in darker colours but if you have light hair, you should wear a lighter suit, like a light grey, as otherwise you can look washed out.”

 

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