We are hiring a seamstress! Must be interested in slow fashion and handmade clothing.
Read More
five8ths launches at 44 Stanley
five8ths recently relocated from Maboneng to a new, larger space at 44 Stanley. To celebrate the occasion, we hosted a party for our custom clients, who have been essential to the growth and expansion of the business.
One of my favourite parts of the work is getting to know my clients throughout the fitting process and beyond. Developing relationships with each client is an essential component to the work. These relationships inspire me, and they also guide the design process for each particular person.
Clients came dressed in their favourite five8ths shirt or shirt-dress, and we previewed the newest fabrics and shirt designs at the event.
We welcome you to visit the shop to see our beautiful new space, and to have a look at the newest fabrics and designs for the upcoming season. We are now officially open!
We are hiring!
Part Time Sales Assistant Required
five8ths is a small shirt making company located in Maboneng, and we are seeking an enthusiastic sales assistant who can work weekends. The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills, and a passion for as well as an ability to convey the qualities of artisanal clothing. She or he must also be competent with hand-sewing and ironing, with attention to detail and dedication to achieve the best results. The successful applicant will be required to work on Saturdays and occasional Sundays. If she/he has the sewing ability and interest, up to two more days per week will be available to take on sewing tasks. Competitive pay.
Duties will include:
Communicating with potential clients about the work we do at five8ths and what sets us apart
Finishing, including hand-sewing of buttons, ironing, and preparing shirts for delivery
Shop management, including cleaning and managing inventory
Processing sales
Taking measurements for new clients
Potential for increased sewing duties depending on skill level and interest
Qualities of the Applicant:
Excellent communication skills
Attentive to detail and maintaining order
Customer Service oriented
Genuine interest in “slow fashion”, art, or sewing
Confident, mature, responsible, open
Ability to concentrate and focus for extended periods of time
Ability to work weekends
Must have a valid South African ID or work permit
*The application process will include an interview and a sewing skills assessment.
For more information about five8ths, please see our website: www.five8ths.com
To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to the below email or physical address. Review of applications will begin immediately until the position is filled.
liz@five8ths.com
five8ths
Workshop and Showroom
Maverick Corner
300 Commissioner Street
Johannesburg
2043
Introducing the five8ths Classic bowtie
Just in time for the holiday season, we are pleased to introduce a
.
Ever since we have been making neckties, customers (and potential customers!) have been asking about bowties. We have taken the time to develop a bowtie that matches the quality and style of our shirts and neckties, and we are now ready to share it.
We have started with a classic bowtie shape, also known as a "thistle" or a "butterfly" bowtie. This is a versatile shape that works well for a variety of occasions and face-shapes, and can be worn by men or women.
Our bowties are made by hand, in our Johannesburg workshop, of fine linens and cottons from Italy, Japan, and South Africa.
Our bowties are self-tie, rather than pre-tied. Self-tie bowties are more sophisticated, and allow the wearer to personalize the shape to fit his or her preference. They can be tied straight and neat, or left a bit less tidy.
Our bowties are made with adjustable hardware, to fit a wide range of neck sizes. We are also happy to make the bowties in a custom size, by request.
You can find a range of bowties at our shop in Maboneng in Johannesburg or on our
.
Shop
 |
In
January, I had a chance to finish up and refine some details of the
shop interior. It has finally come together in the way that I had
envisioned it. It's an intimate space (12 square meters) that manages
to contain my cutting table, sewing table, ironing station, tools,
fabric, and racks. The cutting table is on wheels, which allows me to
push it back and forth, giving extra space for shoppers on the retail
side, or for myself on the working side, depending on the need at the
time. The tailor's racks are on wheels as well, and have space below
to store fabric and packaging. Everything now has its place, which
creates order in my mind and supports efficient movements within the
space. Not only is it a great studio/workshop, the space sets the
tone for the products made within it, and with a quick glance around,
you can see all the steps involved in making a shirt.
"Do-Tell"
Many thanks to David Peter Simon, from Holiday Matinee, for stopping by my shop last week. He posted our interview on the HM blog today, for small business Saturday, and included some of the photos that he took inside the shop in Johannesburg.
He starts the interview by saying that he heard my sewing machine clattering when he walked past the shop--for those who haven't been there, I have a window next to my sewing machine that has a little hatch that I open while I'm working. I do get a lot of passers-by who are eager to talk with me about my machine (usually because they also own one and love it). It's a 1972 Bernina 830 Record--widely viewed as one of the best sewing machines ever made. I'm very happy it captured his attention!
Here's one of David's photos that didn't make it into the blog:
And for those who are curious, I will be posting more shop photos once the finishing touches are complete...stay tuned.
He starts the interview by saying that he heard my sewing machine clattering when he walked past the shop--for those who haven't been there, I have a window next to my sewing machine that has a little hatch that I open while I'm working. I do get a lot of passers-by who are eager to talk with me about my machine (usually because they also own one and love it). It's a 1972 Bernina 830 Record--widely viewed as one of the best sewing machines ever made. I'm very happy it captured his attention!
Here's one of David's photos that didn't make it into the blog:
And for those who are curious, I will be posting more shop photos once the finishing touches are complete...stay tuned.
retail/workshop space
five8ths has a
new home! We will soon be moving into a new combined retail and
workshop space in Johannesburg, South Africa!
My husband,
Ben, started a new job here, so we will be living most of the year in
what is affectionately known as “Jozi”. We have lived in
Johannesburg on and off for the past ten years, so it is a place
where I feel very much at home. From the climate, that is so similar
to Colorado (where I grew up), to the group of friends who we've now
known and grown close to over the past ten years, to the lifestyle
that calms me down. Not to mention the high style-IQ on the streets.
Jozi is a special place, and we are excited to be here. It was here
in Johannesburg, during a previous stint, where I began to make
custom and handmade clothing, spending my time learning and doing
what I love while my husband has conducted research over the years.
My
goal has always been to have a workshop space combined with retail,
so that customers can see where and how five8ths
clothing is made, and so that I can interact with clients
in the context of the studio.
I will be
setting up shop at Maverick corner, a
newly developed area of the Maboneng precinct,
on the corner of Commissioner and
Albrecht. five8ths will be next door
to a women's/children's bespoke and handmade clothing boutique on one
side, and an Ethiopian restaurant on the other side. Across the
courtyard, there is a bespoke bicycle shop with adjacent workshop
that will be open to the public for DIY
bicycle maintenance. Maverick
corner will also be home to a bar, a
burger joint, a food-truck that sells sweets, and an African fabric
emporium! Across the street, developments
are near completion for the “Artisan
Lofts” apartments, and within the next year, MOAD (Museum of
African Design) will move in along side
a restaurant/B&B/cigar bar. Right now, our
space is in its
final stages of renovation, and we will start moving in later in
September. More details to come as
the design of the space takes shape!
In addition to
the shop
in Johannesburg, five8ths will continue to operate as
an online boutique, and carry stock in the US.
US customers can still order online, and in-stock items will be
shipped from there. New custom orders will be shipped mostly from
South Africa, unless I am in the US at the time, but shipping prices
will not change.
Looking
forward to seeing both new and familiar faces in the shop and online!
A map of the Maboneng Precinct is below. five8ths will be located at Maverick Corner (#8).
five8ths in a style shoot
Behind the scenes photos of five8ths used in a Loop de Luxe style shoot last weekend. Nick is wearing the Sunrise necktie, the White Striped pocket square, and the Colored Pencil shirt.
 |
| Sunrise necktie |
 |
| Sunrise necktie and White Striped pocket square |
 |
| Colored Pencil shirt |
Sale Ends Sunday
Spring/Summer 2013
 |
| Cotton Weed necktie |
warm welcome
available online only
20% off
at five8ths.com
sale ends Sunday
 |
| Turf shirt |
five8ths on Loop de Luxe
I am thrilled to announce that five8ths is the first menswear designer to be featured in the online boutique, Loop de Luxe!
Right now you will find five8ths pocket squares and the latest seven-fold
necktie--it is made of the same Italian linen as the dotted navy pocket square. Shirts should soon be up, including the soon-to-be-unveiled short-sleeved designs for spring. Right now you can save 20% with code LOVELDL.
I have admired a few of the other designers on Loop de Luxe for some time, especially fellow-cyclist and womenswear designer Jill Aiko Yee and jewelry designer Laura Lombardi, so am happy to be in great company.
And for those who haven't seen the five8ths website in a while, it has been updated over the past couple months with (hopefully) more clear information and a slightly sleeker design. Let me know if you find any glitches. Thanks!
Brown twill Shacket
Last week I finished a custom order for a brown twill Shacket, for a 6'9" tall man. I flipped the facings so the wrong side faces out--it would almost look normal worn inside-out! I hadn't made a sample of this version of the Shacket, so wasn't sure how it would turn out, but I really like it!
Wirebrush shirt
The Wirebrush shirt really needs to be seen in person to appreciate its subtle design details. So, I'll try my best to bring you to it with this meager blog post.
The medium weight Italian cotton twill fabric is double-sided. The light grey outside looks slightly brushed due to its texture, and the inside is darker grey with a delicate peach-fuzz soft pile. I won't blame you if you decide to forego the undershirt and go straight shirt-on-skin.
Although the fabric is typical of a dress shirt, the styling is borrowed from old-time work shirts. The rounded-bottom pocket and sleeve plackets are reinforced with stitching in the shape of an X. The top-stitching is slightly contrasting in color to the grey twill fabric.
Shirts for Food
Denzel and I met a few years ago when we were both working at Baltimore Montessori Public Charter school. In the years since we met, we've each forged new paths (in the spirit of Montessori, of course!). Mine, obviously, has been to pursue the path of a clothing designer and maker, and Denzel's has been to become a local, sustainable farmer in Baltimore. Denzel's farm is called Five Seeds Farm, as he now has five children (one of whom was in my class a few years ago!). He started with a plot that used to be one of the many boarded-up row-houses in the city, and now has expanded to include another farm just north of the city line. They are "reviving the idea that farming is essential, artistic and exciting." Five Seeds Farm offers a June-November CSA, and so Denzel and I decided to do a trade: a CSA share for custom shirts and a necktie.
Not to mention that he's multi-talented--great farmer, great model!
Here's Denzel rocking his Shacket in Pigtown, Baltimore:
This is his final fitting at my studio (those trapezius muscles don't drape themselves...), in farmer gear, picking out his custom shirts and tie:
This upcoming summer's Five Seeds Farm CSA share is available for purchase now until February 15th at a discounted rate, and I can say based on last-year's bounty, it's going to be good. Denzel's farm features a lot of specialty veggies, such as mizuna, sorrel, and oyster root, all of which I became adept at incorporating into whatever pot or pan was heating on the stove. We ate really well last summer, and almost didn't have to plan our meals, because we could throw greens, roots, and fruits into the skillet and then wrap them in rice-paper or crepes, or saute and serve over rice, and all was delicious with very little effort. Very fresh, sustainably-grown grub.
Just wanted to share some pictures of the food that we made from the veggies from the share last season. It was so much fun to be creative with each week's veggies.
Look how fun Denzel is! This is the friendly face you will see each Thursday if you sign up for his Five Seeds Farm CSA!
Not to mention that he's multi-talented--great farmer, great model!
And here he is in his custom Red Clay shirt:
This upcoming summer's Five Seeds Farm CSA share is available for purchase now until February 15th at a discounted rate, and I can say based on last-year's bounty, it's going to be good. Denzel's farm features a lot of specialty veggies, such as mizuna, sorrel, and oyster root, all of which I became adept at incorporating into whatever pot or pan was heating on the stove. We ate really well last summer, and almost didn't have to plan our meals, because we could throw greens, roots, and fruits into the skillet and then wrap them in rice-paper or crepes, or saute and serve over rice, and all was delicious with very little effort. Very fresh, sustainably-grown grub.
Just wanted to share some pictures of the food that we made from the veggies from the share last season. It was so much fun to be creative with each week's veggies.
Look how fun Denzel is! This is the friendly face you will see each Thursday if you sign up for his Five Seeds Farm CSA!
seven-fold necktie
Over the holiday season, five8ths launched a small line of accessories--neckties and pocket squares.
five8ths seven-fold neckties are made using the original method for making neckties. Rather than using a separate interlining fabric, often made of polyester or wool, I simply use one wide piece of fabric, and carefully fold it over onto itself seven times (like origami), matching the edges of each fold, until the tie is formed into its final shape. The resulting layers of fabric form the thickness of the tie, rather than the interlining "sponge". The tip and tail of the tie are hemmed and blind-stitched by hand.
Once folded, the tie is stitched up the back with one long slip-stitch, which is meant to slip back and forth along the length of the tie when the tie is tied and untied, as the tie is cut on the bias and will stretch during the tying process. The slip-stitch prevents the thread from breaking, keeping the folds secured in place.
The tie is finished with a hand-stamped five8ths cotton twill label, and a keeper, which the tail may be tucked into for a put-together look, or left hanging free from for a looser feel.
The hand-labor involved in making each tie is significant--there is one short seam halfway between the tail and tip that is sewn with my sewing machine. Aside from that seam, the rest of the work is done with fingers, needle, and thread.
Available in limited quantities online in four different fabrics: navy, charcoal, brown/tan stripe, and coco.
five8ths seven-fold neckties are made using the original method for making neckties. Rather than using a separate interlining fabric, often made of polyester or wool, I simply use one wide piece of fabric, and carefully fold it over onto itself seven times (like origami), matching the edges of each fold, until the tie is formed into its final shape. The resulting layers of fabric form the thickness of the tie, rather than the interlining "sponge". The tip and tail of the tie are hemmed and blind-stitched by hand.
Once folded, the tie is stitched up the back with one long slip-stitch, which is meant to slip back and forth along the length of the tie when the tie is tied and untied, as the tie is cut on the bias and will stretch during the tying process. The slip-stitch prevents the thread from breaking, keeping the folds secured in place.
The tie is finished with a hand-stamped five8ths cotton twill label, and a keeper, which the tail may be tucked into for a put-together look, or left hanging free from for a looser feel.
The hand-labor involved in making each tie is significant--there is one short seam halfway between the tail and tip that is sewn with my sewing machine. Aside from that seam, the rest of the work is done with fingers, needle, and thread.
This tie digs-up and dusts-off what a tie is all about. A piece of fabric worn to accent, punctuate, form a look, express a personality. There is beauty in the simplicity of draping just one piece of fabric around the neck, rather than attaching a spongey-thing to the neckline. The weight is a bit different than an interlined tie, and the knot of a seven-fold tie is generally considered to be nicer.
Seven-fold ties are often made with silk, but the current five8ths line is composed of luxurious Italian linen, cotton, and cotton/linen blends. They hang out well between use.
Available in limited quantities online in four different fabrics: navy, charcoal, brown/tan stripe, and coco.
City Shacket
The City Shacket is the original denim Shacket's (shirt-jacket) cousin from the city. It's perfect for in-between weather as a jacket over another shirt, or as a heavy shirt to take off the chill on colder days.
Of all of my designs, this is my favorite. It's like solving a puzzle during construction, because of the challenge of getting the yoke/pocket flap layers together in the right order. My favorite part of the design process is figuring out how the pieces will fit together, and this one was a fun challenge.
This season's City Shacket is a bit more sophisticated than the first one--it is made with a navy Italian brushed cotton with gray pinstripes, and is faced with gray medium weight Italian cotton twill. Cut short to be worn un-tucked (or tucked in, if desired), and with a little roominess in the body.
Size 46 is ready to ship, and I have enough fabric to make10 2 one more.
Of all of my designs, this is my favorite. It's like solving a puzzle during construction, because of the challenge of getting the yoke/pocket flap layers together in the right order. My favorite part of the design process is figuring out how the pieces will fit together, and this one was a fun challenge.
This season's City Shacket is a bit more sophisticated than the first one--it is made with a navy Italian brushed cotton with gray pinstripes, and is faced with gray medium weight Italian cotton twill. Cut short to be worn un-tucked (or tucked in, if desired), and with a little roominess in the body.
Size 46 is ready to ship, and I have enough fabric to make
Standard Sizing expanded
I'm delighted to announce that all five8ths shirts are now available in standard and semi-custom size 48! This new size, like the other sizes, is a tailored fit--not too loose and not too tight.
Here's the latest size chart that includes all measurements:
I'm hoping that with this new size, I will be able to accommodate more people who may fit well in standard sizes and who aren't interested in a fully custom pattern. Any requests for a size 50?
Holiday Heap this Saturday!
five8ths will be at Holiday Heap in Baltimore this weekend!
This is a last-minute addition to my holiday craft fair schedule, but I hope to get the word out to visitors from last year's fair. I believe my booth will be in the smaller, back room, and it should be filled with shirts, neckties, and pocket squares. I hope to see some friendly faces among the crowd!
Holiday Heap 2012
Saturday
December 1, 2012
10am-5pm
2640 St Paul St
St John’s Church
Baltimore, MD
RCF Holiday Market photos
It was so nice to see some familiar and many new faces at RCF Holiday Market this weekend! Thanks to everyone who made it to the fair.
five8ths ties and pocket squares made their debut at the fair, and will be available online soon.
My stylish assistant:
We celebrated a great weekend with a bowl of dumplings and noodle soup in Manhattan!
five8ths ties and pocket squares made their debut at the fair, and will be available online soon.
My stylish assistant:
We celebrated a great weekend with a bowl of dumplings and noodle soup in Manhattan!
Fall/Winter 2012
The men's fall/winter line is now available and viewable online.
I have already made a few standard sizes of each design, and have enough fabric to make custom sizes as well. Please be in touch if you'd like to place an order.
If you'd like to see them in person or have measurements taken, you are welcome to make an appointment to visit my studio in Baltimore, or visit my booth at these upcoming fairs in Brooklyn, NY:
Brooklyn Night Bazaar on December 15, 6PM-Midnight
Keep warm!