IRISH CREATIVE TAILORING DUO BEGGARS RUN OPEN STORE IN NOLITA, NYC

London-based tailoring duo Beggars Run opened its first US store in New York City last week, hosting an opening press party on Wednesday, November 29th. Beggars Run first opened its doors in 2010 above an East London pub, offering non-conformist classics. Growing organically through word of mouth, they are now the preferred tailor for an eclectic mix of stylish musicians, artists, and creators. Advocates of slow fashion, their garments are made-to-order, minimizing waste at each step of the process, while allowing them (and the client) to be flexibly creative.

Co-founder Cian McAuliffe, commented, “Growing up in Ireland in the ’80s and ’90s, New York always felt like a natural extension of our identity. Whether this came from the huge Irish diaspora which is sewn into the fabric of this city, or being enthralled in its culture via movies and music, which painted a vivid picture of this city. It feels like we’ve always vicariously lived here, it feels natural.”

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The Beggars Run name stems from a game of dice founders Eddie and Cian played in their younger days. It meant you were taking a risk with the dice rolled. When they founded Beggars Run it was a risk, the duo had no fashion training or money, and people said they couldn’t do it, and it turned out to be a true rags-to-riches story. The original store is nestled on Charlotte Road, a quieter nook in bustling Shoreditch on a street once known for its furniture makers.

Co-founder Edward Hussey added “When I met Cian in Dublin in our teens we found wearing clothes that were a little different often attracted the wrong kind of attention. We’d be told we had ‘notions,’ an Irish expression reminding you to stay in your lane and not to stand out from the crowd. So, the openness of London proved a breath of fresh air and provided a fertile breeding ground for our ideas and creativity. I see New York as a continuation of this openness, and I find that very exciting.”

Style

Beggars Run makes custom tailoring primarily for men, whilst also catering for women who are looking for a masculine cut. Their house style is a relaxed approach to classic English tailoring, structured but with softer lines and a broader color palette. A willingness to explore new styles is a founding philosophy of Beggars Run.

Process

Operating differently than traditional tailors, Beggars Run collaborates with UK mills to develop a curated range of cloths, which won’t be found anywhere else. These fabrics are made into sample garments, which are displayed in the New York showroom. Clients find this process extremely useful for their decision-making, as opposed to working from small swatches.

Production

All garments are made-to-measure. Typically, a suit takes up to 8 weeks, and other garments such as coats, bombers, and shirts have a shorter lead time. Beggars Run’s workshops are based in Kashmir, India; Joane, Portugal; and Como, Italy.