Author(s): Meg Lukens Noonan

Craft | Textiles

In today's world of fast fashion, is there a place for a handcrafted $50,000 coat? To answer that question, Meg Noonan unravels the story of the coat's provenance. Her journey takes readers to the Sydney studio of John Cutler, a fourth-generation tailor who works magic with scissors and thread; to the remote mountains of Peru, where villagers shear vicunas (a rare animal known for its soft fleece); to the fabulous Florence headquarters of Stefano Ricci, the world's greatest silk designer; to the esteemed French textile company Dormeuil; to the English button factory that makes products out of Indian buffalo horn; and to the workshop of the engraver who made the 18-carat gold plaque that sits inside the collar. These individual artisans and family-owned companies are part of the rich tapestry of bespoke tailoring, which began in 17th-century London. They have stood against the tide of mass consumerism, but their dedication to their craft is about more than maintaining tradition; they have found increasing reason to believe that their way is best - for customers, for the environment, and for the workers involved. Fascinating, surprising, and entertaining, The Coat Route is a timely love song to things of lasting value in our disposable culture.

Review:

'[A] fascinating book with a serious message about the real costs of fast fashion.'

-- Deborah Bogle * Adelaide Advertiser *

'evocative travelogue and eloquent tribute to the craft of tailoring - in particular a homage to the coat's creator, John Cutler - as well as a spectacular window into the rarified world in which a genuinely bespoke creation bests an uber-designer label any day.'

-- Rebecca Tansley * North and South *

'[A] lively journey . . . Traditions of bespoke tailoring (and other related crafts) are skirting the edge of extinction. Noonan's delightful story makes us hope they endure.'

* Publishers Weekly *

'[A] rich, entertaining read, paying tribute to craftspeople dedicated to timeless quality in a mass-produced, fast-fashion world.'

-- Daniel Herborn * Sydney Morning Herald *

'[U]tterly beguiling account of ... the rarefied world of bespoke tailoring and centuries-old craftsmanship ... an inspiring, often sad, altogether illuminating David and Goliath story of small family businesses pitting their talents against the tide of history.'

-- Bron Sibree * West Australian *

'A fabulous story, brilliantly told ... I couldn't have enjoyed it more.'

-- Bill Bryson

Author Biography: Meg Lukens Noonan has written for many publications, including Outside, National Geographic Adventure, Travel + Leisure, Esquire, Men's Journal, and The New York Times. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two daughters.