The Coat Route

Craft, Luxury & Obesssion

on the Trail of a

$50,000 Coat

By Meg Lukens Noonan

This book comes recommended by Manon, Norma, Gretchen and Donna.

 This is the tale of the making of a $50,000 overcoat for a wealthy man in Vancouver, Canada.  The author explores the bespoke tailoring trade and all the uber-luxury components that go into making the ultimate garment.  She travels around the globe to visit each of the ateliers and factories involved.  She helps with a Vicuña shearing in Peru and watching silk screening in Italy.  She interviews the men (mostly) who are the dying breed of artisans working in the custom clothing world.

This is easy to read, fascinating and a bit sad; this was written in 2013 and many of these artisans and small factories were struggling even then.

This book is available at the Rhode Island and Massachusetts public libraries.