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The Origin of the Paddye Mann High-Collared Shirt

The Origin of the Paddye Mann High-Collared Shirt

As a young designer in 1978, I realized that business clothing for women was almost a cliché: skirt, light blouse or camisole and a jacket. If the office environment got hot, or a meeting turned into a marathon, while the men could remove their jackets and loosen their ties, the executive woman had to continue wearing her jacket or risk being too revealing. I set about to change that norm, and I designed a shirt that could be worn alone, under a jacket, casual or formal, and would last for many many years. Since that original design was completed I have made thousands of these beautiful shirts, many of which are still in use decades later.

I wanted my shirts to be stylish in an enduring way, so I first incorporated crisp top stitching on the collar, cuffs and front bands, so the shirt would keep looking fresh all day and stay that way if it was worn after work in a social setting. It was versatile enough that it could be worn with a skirt or jeans, tucked in or left out, coupled with a big belt, or even tied at the waist. I created my shirts in two designs. One was form fitting to accentuate a well sculpted image, or loosely tailored for comfort and relaxation. My shirts were designed to quickly transition from a work personality to a casual outfit for an evening out.

Knowing that one of the requirements for long lasting quality was to find a cotton that would be strong and yet look smooth and lustrous, I searched for and found the perfect cotton in the Biella region of Italy. Biella is renowned for its beautiful soft, strong cotton, and I specified a two ply 100% cotton strand. These beautiful fine threads of Biella are so smooth and lustrous they are often mistaken for silk, but they are significantly more strong and durable.

To complete my design, I directed our tailors to ensure all top stitching threads are hand tied, not simply stitched over and over to make an unsightly finish. Our threads are hand tied and give a fine clean look to the edges. But there was one item that has always been a concern for me, and that is buttonholes. It is not enough for a garment to be well made from excellent cloth, if the garment begins to come apart at the buttonholes. All too often a beautiful garment is discarded because its threads began to unravel and that always seems to happen at the buttonholes. The solution was simple but elegant. I directed that all our shirts would be designed with hand sewn buttonholes, each carefully made to be strong, and never unravel even after decades of use and washing.

And now, many years since I created that first design, it remains virtually unchanged. Our shirts are still our single most popular item. We have made Paddye Mann Design shirts for thousand of people and shipped them all over the world. They are still in use, and if treated well will continue to provide decades of stylish comfortable wear. This is a beautiful garment, a versatile and inimitable style you will purchase once and wear for a lifetime.

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WHY DOES PADDYE MANN SEARCH 20,000 km FOR WOOL?

WHY DOES PADDYE MANN SEARCH 20,000 km FOR WOOL?

In the verdant hills of New Zealand the worlds most desired wool is spin. It is special wool from the Merino sheep and highly sought for its characteristics. Its unique insulating properties regulate your temperature on cool or warm days. It is strong and will not lose its shape, and yet is soft, delicate and light to the touch. It doesn't scratch the skin but caresses and comforts. It is feminine.

Paddye Mann uses this unique and exceptional wool to create beautiful sweaters. Each shipment of Merino wool is a single colour, just enough for one sweater, and each colour is itself special. No two sweaters will ever be exactly the same. Yours is singular to you.

The Paddye Mann sweater is created with a loose rising collar to softly caress and grace your neckline. The exquisite ribbing fashioned into the bottom ensures freedom of movement for you, and with the additional length at the back will keep you warm and comfortable. The strategic slits in the side of the sweater create a mirage of movement and flow while still keeping you wrapped in its comfort. The sleeves are wide and the sweater is easily worn over other garments - perhaps a substitute for a jacket over a sleeveless dress, and yet just as beautiful, comfortably worn over legging; a sweater forever and always.

And so over thousands of kilometres, Paddye Mann brings this exceptional wool to create your sweater. This garment is handcrafted to provide you with a singular, beautifully created that is as timeless in its fashion as it is durable. It is special. It is individual. It is distinctive. And it is available exclusively from Paddye Mann. There can be only one…yours. 

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NOW SELLING COVID-19 MASKS

NOW SELLING COVID-19 MASKS

We’ve made thousands of masks the last few months for local organizations and front line workers in need. We are now ready to share with the public.

Paddye Mann masks are made with two layers of 100% tightly woven cotton with jersey ties and a flexible nose band and are designed to withstand repeated washing.  The shaped nose piece keeps glasses from fogging. The ties can be adapted to fasten behind your head or ears. More information about wearing and caring for masks can be found at https://paddyemann.com/cv19-masks/ .

Price per individual mask is $18.00 CAD (plus applicable taxes).

To order masks, please contact us through email or phone.

email: clothing@paddyemann.com

Phone: 1-613-624-5201

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STRONG & HAPPY

STRONG & HAPPY

I love this photo by Ruth Dick.

40 years ago...

When I first made the pattern for a high collar shirt I didn't know about the rules.

All I really knew was that I wanted a shirt for women that would allow them to go without a jacket in a meeting and still feel confident, to wear a shirt with a pair of jeans and not feel like it came stolen from the other side of the closet, a garment that stood on its own - strong and happy - like its owner.

We still make them the same way: topstitched collar, fronts and cuffs to keep its clean lines, handmade buttonholes to keep it smart for a very long time, and the best cottons. And, after all these years, the same hands making these shirts.

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PACKING FOR A TRIP

PACKING FOR A TRIP

This is how to pack for a two week trip.

Fold your garments into rectangles and stand them up in your suitcase. This makes finding garments easy as you travel from place to place.

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SILENT PARTNERS

SILENT PARTNERS

For years, I never really quite caught on to the comments about Paddye Mann's naked ladies........ And then I moved into the building across the back garden from my studio and shop!!! There they are, all lined up and ready for me to begin the next day's work.

I've been using these dress forms for over 30 years and they've never let me down. I pad them and mould their shapes to match my client's measurements. I drape fabric on them to get a feel for an evening dress or the balance for a suit. And, sometimes, I just sit and stare at them trying to figure out what form a design will take. Only then do I commit the design to paper.

Mannequins are my silent partners.

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