Coat Maker and Military Tailor Iona Knight enjoyed success as a Finalist in the Golden Shears Awards in 2019. Her chosen concept for the outfit was to make a ladies overcoat for a black tie event.
Photo credit @KatiaAutier
Military Precision
Military Influence
In Iona's own words: ``Most of my training had all been in military uniforms so I actually wanted to make something civilian for a change. But of course I wanted to utilise some of my military skill set so I created the black braid designs based on a selection of techniques that are used in different uniforms, like the Austrian knots.
The coat also has the patrol seams on the back and front like we often have in military.``
Iona went on to say: “I chose a light grey herringbone cloth for the coat, kindly gifted by Holland and Sherry, so the black braid would stand out.
The collar is in a black velvet and there’s a black velvet waistcoat to go with it. The trousers also have a velvet braid running down the sides to tie the outfit together.”
Ceremonial
Lots of the uniforms that Iona and her colleagues work on involve The King's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard, the ceremonial bodyguard of the British monarch when in England. The oldest British military corps still in existence, it was created by King Henry VII in 1485 after the Battle of Bosworth Field.
Iona works in the bespoke tailoring workshop, as part of our team of specialist military makers. Trained by QEST Scholar Sarah Wilkinson, who herself is a specialist in gold and silver wire embroidery, which she studied at Hampton Court Palace.
Dege & Skinner holds a Royal Warrant of Appointment to His Majesty The King, for specific military uniforms that we cut and create in our 160 year old, family-owned bespoke tailoring house and shirt-maker based in the very heart of London’s prestigious Savile Row.