The house that Billiam built
Words by Jonathan Fernando
Continental fashion houses could learn a thing or two from our young upstarts over this side of the water. As globally recognisable labels exhibit signs of haute couture elitism, we mere mortals would have to sell our own hands to buy a garment of any quality from the likes of Chanel or Givenchy.
So one British label has taken it upon themselves to turn the whole concept on its head by bending the rules of couture and bringing it to the masses. They’ve got the market sewn right up – see what I did there? - meet House of Billiam.
This vision of ‘street-couture’ is so simple and yet wonderfully unique, as you, the customer, collaborate with the label to receive your very own piece of bespoke clothing. You’ll feel just like a city slicker in Savile Row as you choose the materials that you desire for the inner and outer layers, from the many fabric swatches available online, and then specify your measurements. The House of Billiam elves work tirelessly for weeks on end, until finally, on your doorstep, arrives one inimitable hoody. Yep, you heard right, a hoody.
You see, House of Billiam specialise in crafting together made-to-order hooded jackets from some of the finest British materials around, presenting you with a glorious garment that is not only warm and practical, but über cool and bang on trend. The immediate features of one of their hoodies serve as their unique selling points, as the materials that form each body of work comprises of glorious vintage fabrics and rare linings more commonly found on suit jackets. With each textile handpicked from across these isles, and often bought in limited amounts, these details only serve to further their distinction from any other fashion label out there.
House of Billiam is the brainchild of Thomas Bird, who designs and constructs each jacket, while pal Dan Levy deals with the business aspects of the company. Inspired by British tailoring and a family tradition of clothes-making, Bird could not have asked for a more apt combination of influences that would ultimately lead to the foundations of the label.
“I wanted to create something that epitomised British values and traditionalism and nothing encapsulated that more than the classic suit. I used to breakdance and that was all about having the most unique items of clothing, so I guess I just put two and two together,” Bird recalls. His union of the traditional materials with the hoody was his own sneaky way of “getting people who were not necessarily used to suiting fabrics to understand them through a piece of clothing they could identify with.”
Bird now resides and works from his studio in East London, after making the move from his home in Northampton in an attempt to really push the label. It seems to have done the trick as their designs have been featured on the latest series of ‘Skins’ and they also have a host of famous mannequins sporting their garments, including Steffan of The Klaxons and Teki Latex, and BMX riders Matthias Dandois and Raphael Chiquet.
And House of Billiam are not only cool and street savvy, but they know that in these bleak and woeful times we really need our coloured notes to stretch that little bit further. Which is why Bird addresses his affection for utilitarianism by designing each hoody to be reversible, allowing you to switch from garish, urban youth to understated man-about-town in the blink of an eye. In a final nod to Savile Row, a personalised collaboration label is sewn into the pocket to add a neat touch of classic tailoring to the proceedings.
House of Billiam simply allow the customer a blank canvas to project your own sense of style and taste upon, safe in the knowledge that for your money’s worth you will be left with a stylish product to adore that is not only fresh and unique, but the staple item of modern society.
Prices start from around £150 inc. free delivery. For additional information or to contact House of Billiam directly, follow the links below:
Posted Tue, July 21, 2009