
With all the secrecy surrounding Kate Middleton‘s choice of bridal gown designer for her wedding to Prince William last month, it might surprise you to learn that Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen wasn’t the only one keeping hush-hush about her sewing projects. Military and ceremonial specialty tailor Kashket and Partners was responsible for making the new Duke of Cambridge’s Irish Guards wedding clothes – as well as 2,000 other uniforms for the Royal Wedding. Now that a confidentiality agreement has lapsed, the shop is speaking out.
Kashket and Partners, which is run by brothers Marlon and Russell Kashket, created uniforms for Prince William, Prince Harry, the wedding pageboys, the drum majors, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, and the five Footguards regiments. It took 350 tailors to make the clothes, which were all hand-sewn.
They say Kate was deeply involved with the design of the men’s clothes as well as her own:
When we designed the outfits, we sat and had coffee and biscuits with Catherine and William. She was lovely and gave more input than people realise.
However, when it came to his own comfort, William knew exactly what he wanted.
‘He was very concerned about the heat because he knew all the cameras and lights would make it very hot in the Abbey. ‘We worked together to get the look he wanted while using material to absorb the heat and make sure he didn’t pass out in front of two billion people across the world.’
The Kashkets used “special micropads – thin sponges designed to absorb sweat” in the lining of the Prince’s uniform to help him stay cooler under all that ceremonial wool.
Harry’s uniform posed another challenge: with no pockets in traditional ceremonial uniforms, where could he secure Kate’s wedding ring? The master craftsmen made a small modification to the cuff on Harry’s uniform:
‘We had a last-minute rush when the palace asked us if we could incorporate some device that would hold the ring. To solve the problem we decided to sew a tiny secret compartment into the scarlet cuff sealed with Velcro. This kept Catherine’s ring safe.’
Russell Kashket said he was “very pleased to be part of the biggest day this country has seen for many years.”
It was only when I was sitting in the Abbey that I realised how I felt,’ Russell Kashket said. ‘He had chosen us. What an honour. It was unbelievable.
[ Images by Anwar Hussein/WENN.com ]