About us

Silk & Sawdust is a London/Bangkok based label with a unique approach to fashion.

The idea is really quite simple. We’ve all seen and cooed over the frocks of yesteryear, and wanted to bring the glamour of the old film stars to our own wardrobes, and yet finding vintage clothes that fit, in good condition and that work for everyday isn’t always plain sailing.

Silk & Sawdust recreates some of the best of vintage design from the last century in the stunning fabrics available today. The pieces are lovingly hand tailored, by delightful and highly skilled dressmakers in Thailand, and they are beautifully cut to fit the figures today.

Inspiration comes from vintage patterns, old fashion books and original vintage dresses, coats and tops. And fabric is sourced from far and wide: London, Paris, Turkey, Thailand, to name but a few.

Each design is only available in limited numbers, giving customers that same sense of discovery and exclusivity that is experienced when you discover a vintage gem. There’s little risk of running into someone else in the same Silk & Sawdust dress.

Thanks for looking. And if you find something you love, give us a twirl!

Claudia x

How it all began...

When I think about the hours I’ve spent in charity shops, at flea markets, rummaging through various family member’s attics and wardrobes it makes me feel quite tired. Not that it ever felt like a chore at the time – there’s something truly magical about unearthing the unusual and unique that makes the effort well worthwhile.

 But – nine times out of ten – when you do find a gem it has, shall we say, ‘issues’. Mostly that means it’s a little tangy in the armpit region. Or torn in a strategic place. Or just generally the wrong size! Vintage style is glorious, of course… the olfactory evidence of previous owners is not.

And that was the basis of the idea behind Silk & Sawdust. What if you could have ‘old-fashioned’ tailoring, along with the extra bonus of individuality in a brand new – and affordable – package.

I was about six years old when I made my first frock. It was in the very early eighties when white was all the rage. I relieved my mother of an old sheet that was a little threadbare in places, snipped away, nipped, tucked, ran over it with her hand-powered Singer… and hey presto, a cute little straight white dress finished off with a red ribbon at the waist.  Sadly I don’t think Mummy Orrell could quite get over the idea that it was, in fact a sheet, and was slightly mortified by me wearing it to school. 

 Fast forward some 20 odd years, a number of bridesmaids dresses, prom dresses (or ball gowns as we called them then – why does that sound so frumpy now?), and many random additions to my wardrobe later... I was working, as a publisher in London. My aspirations of House-of-Elliot-style business but a distant dream.

I continued my illicit love affair on the side, making dresses and other pretty things for myself and friends. I also teased myself by undertaking short courses in fashion drawing and design at St Martins. Then, after one too many spreadsheets in my 'big girl's job', I took a slightly unprecedented leap: I grabbed the opportunity of voluntary redundancy with open arms and went to work for a grassroots Burmese organization in Bangkok with Voluntary Service Overseas. 

And that, strangely enough, was what swung me back to dressmaking.  Aside from the incredible people I met, and the humbling scenes I witnessed, I also saw the most incredible environment of creativity. Stunning fabrics – silks, cottons, chiffons – went hand-in-hand with the awe-inspiring dressmaking skills of the local people. This wasn’t about fancy modern equipment and technology, it was about gorgeous and highly talented individuals cutting patterns, pinning fabrics, and working on the type of sturdy machines the western world would have discarded. You can walk down any street in Bangkok and see half a dozen vendors  not selling goods but their sewing services. Mending jeans, tops, skirts – you name it  – all with a foot-peddled Singer. Tailoring and dress-making is in their DNA.

Silk & Sawdust started in October 2009, and two months later had generated an energy of its own that meant I couldn’t help but follow my dream fultime. It’s been an incredible journey so far – a huge amount of work, but so much fun. And so much incredible input from dear friends (Kathryn, Jenny with a Y and Jenni with an I, Dan, Kevin, Emma… the list goes on). And of course it couldn't have happened without those fantastic dressmaking colleagues in Thailand.

 I hope you enjoy the collection and keep coming back for more. Do let us know if there’s anything you’d like to see done differently… we’re here to make things that people want to treasure for a very long time.