A LEADING bespoke tailoring business has expanded its operations in Ilkley in spite of tough market conditions.

Norton & Townsend, launched in London in 1990, has opened its second shop at the headquarters of its parent company in Ilkley to adapt to changing customer demands.

N&T grew rapidly through the 1990s providing bespoke tailoring from a network of mobile tailors visiting customers.

The opening of its second shop in Bolling Road, Ben Rhydding and sharing offices with parent company, Buxton Pickles, reflects customers’ preference for high street-based shopping.

Managing director Austen Pickles, who cut his teeth in Bradford’s worsted weaving industry, said the change reflected market demand, particularly among financial services sector customers. He said: “Many of our customers are very sensitive to the economic climate. The banks in particular have made a lot or redundancies and cut bonuses.

“Whilst our clients still need to be dressed impeccably, they do not necessarily want their colleagues at work to see them with their tailor in the office. We have to be discrete.”

A £10 million pound clothing firm which supplies tailoring to big high street names,such as Hobbs, Whistles, Jaegar and Jigsaw, Buxton, Pickles moved from Salts Mill, Saltaire, to Ilkley in 2004. It said less road and rail congestion and the local hospitality trade were among reasons for the relocation.

Historically, more than 85 per cent of N&T business was done through its tailors visiting clients at work or home to measure them up for a bespoke garment.

The company says the free nationwide service helped it to stay market leader for more than 25 years, but that customer trends has seen shop visits increase by a quarter since 2014.

Mr Pickles said “It’s a tough time for us, there is a lot of uncertainty amongst customers, due to the Brexit referendum in particular, but also a general lack of confidence. However, we have actually recruited more people this year both in Ilkley and in London.

“We are determined to grow despite the apparent downturn and our forecast looks like we will finish up by 20 per cent on last year.”

Buxton Pickles has also extended its offices to accommodate a bigger team and recruited people.