Golden Shears Finalist

Hats (bucket hats, ideally) off to our bespoke apprentice Anastasia Inozemtceva, who reached the finals of this year's Golden Shears competition.

Now in its 50th year., the Golden Shears is really rather a big-deal bi-annual contest that is open to fashion students and apprentice tailors throughout the UK; it is known internationally for showcasing the best breaking bespoke tailoring talent.

Entries are judged by a panel of technical experts (comprising tailors, cutters, designers etc) before being shown on a catwalk (pictured, below) for aesthetic appraisal by a committee of style scrutinising types, which, this year,  included Head of Fashion at The Daily Telegraph Lisa Armstrong and our friend the Creative Director Catherine Hayward. 

Anastasia's entry (which you can see now in the window of Richard James House, probably a bit better than in the reflection-heavy picture above) was a two-piece burgundy women’s suit with a contrasting tweed cape and bucket hat. 

Anastasia graduated from the BA Bespoke Tailoring course at the London College of Fashion last year and now has her sites set on coat-making. 

"I love to play with the balance between classic tailoring and something more casual, bringing a sense of fun and personality through bright colours," she says.