“Longevity is a British craft” says fashion entrepreneur behind James Bond

TIM EVEREST has had a distinguished career in the fashion industry, and is now bringing his experience to Leeds, officially launching in at Lambert’s Yard last week.

Mr Everest MBE is best known for styling and costumes on films such as the latest James Bond film Spectre, as well as Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, Atonement, Mamma Mia with Pierce Brosnan, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E, directed by Guy Ritchie.

His collection has launched at Lambert’s Yard, an independent fashion offering in Leeds city centre, hiding in plain site on Lower Briggate.

This gem features local designers such as Dobson, Rose & White, and emerging designer Ross Barr who will be rubbing shoulders with the fashion heavyweight.

He is currently working on projects with Superdry, and his company, which specialises in bespoke casual, is 25 years old this month.

Mr Everest himself has an unconventional view of his industry. He spoke to TheBusinessDesk.com at the launch of his collection at Lambert’s Yard last week. He said: “Fashion has become old-fashioned. The idea of having seasons, clothes that are on a catwalk, you wear them for one season and then throw them out is old fashioned. You should wear what you enjoy wearing.

“I’ve seen changes in the menswear industry throughout my career. I grew up with made-to-measure clothing, then there was an industry-wide move to ready-to-wear, now made-to-measure is coming back round.”

“I’m a big fan of made-to-measure. We live in a world of customisation, from playlists to holidays. People want to invest in bespoke pieces.Thankfully longevity is a British craft.”

Mr Everest has seen the industry move offshore, as manufacturing became too expensive in the UK. “I was very adamant when I was younger that everything should be made in the UK.

“But it was a transition – I did a lot of work for others and realised that it was very important we make things to international standards – we have to prove we can make a value British product. Back then we were forced to go to Africa, China and Asia.

“If it’s manufactured here, it has to be able to compete with the rest of the world against benchmark international quality.

“Now provenance has also become terribly important. People are willing to invest in a piece. People question the origins of their clothes and their food much more than before, they want to know more about what they’re wearing and eating.”

The recognition Mr Everest has received has largely been in the fashion world, but he has also been involved in more mainstream popular he worked with L’Wren Scott on the Oscars in 2000, went down the red carpet with Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise.

On the issue of celebrity in fashion, he said “People can relate to celebrities, in this time when people can be famous for being famous, so I’m torn. Commercially people have to understand who we work with, but we also have long relationships with high-profile clients because they trust us, not because we take pictures with them on the red carpet.”

This collection will be the first for Mr Everest’s firm in the North, and he chose Leeds after having trained at mills in Huddersfield, as well as Leeds’ distinguished history in the textile industry. He also uses Yorkshire cloth in many of his designs.

He also said: “I moved to Leeds because I got a bit disconcerted, as everything is about London. When I’m abroad that’s what people talk about, instead of the rest of the UK. Thankfully, things like the Tour de France coming to the region have changed that for the better. Now they ask me what Yorkshire’s like instead!”