The Coat Route: Craft, Luxury, and Obsession on the trail of a $50,000 coat

(Paperback)

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Description

Fascinating, surprising, and entertaining, The Coat Route is a timely love song to things of lasting value in our disposable culture. 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.

Reviews

"A spirited tour of fashion history . . . "The Coat Route" compels us to remember that behind every garment is a deep history and a pair of human hands--whether those hands stitched the dress's hem or pulled a lever that stringed together that $30 must-have jacket."--"The Wall Street Journal"
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"Delightful . . . "The Coat Route" celebrates those who work with their hands, creating something beautiful and lasting."--"The Seattle Times"
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"[Meg Lukens Noonan's] exploration of the business of fashion is fascinating and thorough, and her examination of bespoke goods redefines the words luxury and obsession."--The Daily Beast
"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"
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"Lush writing and eagle-eyed reportage uncloak the insular world of bespoke fashion. . . . Globe-trekking travel writer Noonan is well-equipped to bridge the chasm and bring back a narrative every bit as finely rendered as the title's subject. Outfitted with an infectious curiosity and enviable eye for detail, the seasoned correspondent executes a sartorial odyssey that spans a remarkable portion of the planet. The fantastic journey is both fast-paced and rich."--"Kirkus Reviews"
"A fabulous story, brilliantly told . . . I couldn't have enjoyed it more."--Bill Bryson
"As captivating as any mystery or thriller, "The Coat Route" demystifies the rarefied universe of bespoke tailoring and provides a lens into the culture that covets it. It educates and inspires. I couldn't put it down!"--Tim Gunn
"If there's anything as unlikely--or as unnecessary--as a $50,000 overcoat, I'm not aware of it. But if there's anything more interesting than a book about the worldwide network of vicuna ranchers, button makers, silkworm breeders, gold engravers, pattern weavers, and master tailors who make such a coat possible, I hope someone as
"A fabulous story, brilliantly told . . . I couldn't have enjoyed it more."--Bill Bryson

"As captivating as any mystery or thriller, "The Coat Route" demystifies the rarefied universe of bespoke tailoring and provides a lens into the culture that covets it. It educates and inspires. I couldn't put it down!"--Tim Gunn

"If there's anything as unlikely--or as unnecessary--as a $50,000 overcoat, I'm not aware of it. But if there's anything more interesting than a book about the worldwide network of vicuna ranchers, button makers, silkworm breeders, gold engravers, pattern weavers, and master tailors who make such a coat possible, I hope someone as talented and as companionable as Meg Lukens Noonan writes it. For me, "The Coat Route" was a delightful journey."--Daniel Okrent

"[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"

"An informative joy from start to finish."--Richard Anderson, author of "Bespoke: Savile Row Ripped and Smoothed"

Author Bio

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.