Hello, welcome to the Making of Batch No.18. This page will be updated each week until we deliver your jacket.
Week beg. 22nd July 2024 - Bill's Blue in the making
Press play below to watch the final video in the making of Batch No.18, as Bill's Blue jackets are being dyed, checked, pressed and finished as their buttons are attached and reinforced. Thank you so much for patiently waiting while we made your jacket, we hope you'll love it when it arrives.
Week beg. 15th July 2024 - Your Corozo Nut Buttons
We started making the Corozo nut buttons for your jacket over 15 years ago. Well, that’s when the Tagua Palm tree was planted, and only after 15 years do they start to produce Corozo nuts. The female trees produce mocochas (big spikey husks) which drop naturally from the tree like a coconut. The husks contain enough valuable Corozo nuts, to make thousands of buttons. Once collected the nuts are laid out to dry in the sun, before processing into button blanks. Blanks are quite literally blank disks of white nut, from which many styles and sizes of button can be cut. Every nut is cut into slices. The smaller slices destined to become tiny buttons used on shirts, and the biggest and most valuable blanks will become large coat buttons. Next, the blanks are sent to Andrea & David, Lise & Steve at Courtney & Co in the UK, ready to be made into your buttons. The first stage is taking the blank and ‘turning’ it, which means using machinery to carve the top & bottom sides of the button into the right style & size. Once turned, Lise dyes every button herself, carefully matching them to the samples we made together during the design phase of Batch No.18
Week beg. 8th July 2024 - Dying jackets Navy Blue
In this week's update from the factory we've got a short video to show the Navy Blue jackets as they are being dyed, pressed, checked and having their buttons sewn on and reinforced too.
Week beg. 24th June 2024 - Dying jackets Climpson Brown
While the Olive Green jackets are starting to be sent out across the world, this week's video update shows the Climpson Brown jackets as they are being dyed in Northern Portugal, and the final finishing stages of those Olive Green jackets before they left the factory.
Week beg. 17th June 2024 - Dying jackets Olive Green
This week we're at the dye house, just up the road from the factory. Watch the video linked below to see the first jackets - Olive Green - being dyed, finished, pressed and checked.
Week beg. 10th June 2024 - Sewing Continues & Collar Embroidery
It's the final week before your jacket is dyed. Press play below to see the zig-zag under collar stitching, followed by construction of the jacket in it's entirety, as it's fully stitched and ready to be dyed!
Week beg. 3rd June 2024 - Sewing Continues
Press play on the video below to see some serious progress in the sewing department. From labels being sewn in to pockets top stitched, shoulder seams coming together and cuffs being hemmed, you'll start to recognise the jacket as a jacket! Next week we'll be showing you the final stages of sewing before a trip down the road to the dye house later this month. Enjoy!Week beg. 27th May 2024 - Sewing Begins
Press play on the video below to see how the inside of every pocket has been carefully overlocked for a neat, long lasting finish, before the edges are pressed and ready for pockets to join jacket fronts. Next, seam allowances are being pressed, and the collars have been attached to collar stands.
Also, while you're here, here's a glimpse into the fabric mill who made your French cotton twill for your Five Year Anniversary Chore Jacket...
Week beg. 20th May 2024 - Your Jacket being cut
It is time for a glimpse into the factory in Northern Portugal, to see the French cotton twill being cut. You'll notice that all of our fabric is white. That's because we cut and sew jackets before we dye, using a technique called garment dying which creates a beautifully soft and characterful jacket. More on that next week!
Week beg. 13th May 2024 - Your Labels being woven
Press play on the video below to see your limited edition labels being woven just down the road from our factory in Northern Portugal.
After they're woven, the labels are cut. This machine has got to be one of the most satisfying to watch.
A Big Note of Thanks
Welcome to the behind the scenes of Batch No.18.
Thank you so much for your order, we are very proud to be making for you.
Over the next few months we're going to show you what goes into making your jacket, from beginning to end. As well as some little extras. We'll aim to update this page every Friday, to show you what's been happening each week along the way until it's ready to send around July.
If there's anything you'd like to see more of along the way, please just ask, and we'll see what we can do.