Celebs in a stitch over bespoke designer jeans

Jun 26 2008 By Peter Carroll

EXCLUSIVE

A CITY tailor is hoping to stitch up big-time denim designers like Victoria Beckham with his own unique brand breeks.

Robert Watson, 28, from the city centre, swapped a promising engineering career to set up his own designer label, Rabii Denim.

But rather than run off endless off-the-peg pairs of denims to the masses, Robert only makes exclusive one-of-a-kind jeans for individual clients - each branded with a 'Hand-made in Glasgow' label.

And his customer base, which includes celebrities, Robert is keeping hushhush, is growing thanks to his take on made-to-measure jeans.

Robert, currently based at independent boutique Che Camille in the city's Saltmarket, said: "My mum was a tailor and she used to make all my clothes.

"I was always interested in tailoring and used to watch my mum at work all the time. I worked for an engineering company making speakers when I left school. It was good money but I hated it and decided to go to college.

"As you can imagine my dad wasn't thrilled at the prospect of his son quitting engineering for fashion design."

Aged 19, Robert enrolled in an HND in clothing technology and tailoring course at Cardonald College and set to work on his own brand of jeans.

He added: "Each pair of denims I make are totally unique to the client."

"They choose everything from colour, style, cut, stitching, pockets, fabrics and badges.

"It normally takes three meetings to make a pair of jeans to the client's specifications.

"The customer comes in for an initial consultation and measuring, then they come back for a first draft and then the last fitting where any last-minute alterations are done.

"I've managed to get the time down to six hours for a pair of jeans."

And Robert, whose silhouette features on the Rabii Denim badge, has no qualms with the £180 cost of his jeans and says customers get exactly what they pay for.

He said: "It might seem like a lot of money, but the jeans are totally unique and take a lot of time to prepare.

"If you think about it some brands of designer jeans can cost up to £400 and that's off the peg.

"Rabii Denim jeans fit the exact shape of the client, to their specifications."

One of Robert's other skills - designing denims that flatter a customer's rear - is also bumming up the jeans label to the city's fashionistas.

Robert said: "Yeah, I've started to get a few female customers through the door looking for the perfect fit jeans for the bum.

"The shape and position of the pockets is vital to looking good in jeans, so the best bum is a made-tomeasure bum."

As well as jeans, Robert's Rabii label also makes jackets, kilts and suits in various fabrics.

To find out more call 07862 720215, or visit: www.checamille.com