Menswear
Classic British-Made Men's Gilets, Vests and Body Warmers — Voted by the Community
This directory lists 13 brands that make classic men's gilets in the UK. They are most often based in London, Somerset and Suffolk. Prices run from affordable to luxury. Ranked by community upvotes.
Dege & Skinner
Dege & Skinner, bespoke tailor and shirt-maker established in 1865 and still a family-owned business. Located at Number 10 Savile Row, as well as hosting various domestic and overseas trunk shows to cater for high demand.
- Bridal
- Classic
- Contemporary
Shop to visit- Bridal
- Classic
- Contemporary
Fortis
Fortis is a British outdoor clothing manufacturer founded in 1997, evolving from farm diversification to producing durable, sustainable garments with military-grade fabrics.
- Casual
- Classic
- Country
Factory shop- Casual
- Classic
- Country
See these brands on the map24 places from 12 brands, 12 of them shops you can visit.Open the map
Phoebe English
Clothing made in England attempting a variety of solutions towards less extractive fashion systems. Est 2011.
- Bridal
- Casual
- Classic
Shop to visit- Bridal
- Casual
- Classic
Oxford Blue Ltd
Oxford Blue is a leading British leisure brand since 1968, specialising in high-quality lifestyle and country clothing with innovative Classical Wax designs.
Hemingsworth
Hemingsworth is a British-made menswear brand founded on a lifetime of travel, offering timeless, versatile garments engineered for the modern globetrotter.
- Casual
- Classic
- Formal
- Casual
- Classic
- Formal
SIRPLUS
SIRPLUS is a British clothing brand crafting menswear from surplus fabrics, championing sustainable design and timeless style.
- Classic
- Contemporary
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Contemporary
- Heritage
British Sheepskin
British Sheepskin crafts luxury sheepskin coats, jackets, hats, gloves, and accessories using traditional techniques in Somerset, England.
- Classic
- Country
- Vintage
Factory shop- Classic
- Country
- Vintage
Turnbull & Asser
Turnbull & Asser is a distinguished British shirtmaker founded in 1885, renowned for timeless style, exceptional quality, and sartorial elegance.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Paul Brown
Paul Brown manufacture luxury ladies and mens clothing made in England.
- Classic
- Formal
- Timeless
- Classic
- Formal
- Timeless
Lavenham Jackets
Quilted jackets and outerwear handmade in Suffolk, England, blending heritage craftsmanship with modern design.
- Classic
- Heritage
- Outdoor
- Classic
- Heritage
- Outdoor
Berk
Berk Cashmere, established in 1961, is a British family business known worldwide for understated style and finest cashmere knitwear, hand-made in Scotland by skilled artisans.
- Classic
- Heritage
- Classic
- Heritage
Owen Barry
Owen Barry is a British brand handcrafting sheepskin and leather products in Somerset since 1948, continuing a family tradition across four generations.
- Classic
- Heritage
- Outdoor
- Classic
- Heritage
- Outdoor
Glenbrae
Glenbrae is a British clothing brand making high-quality knitwear in England. Their garments use fine wool and Spirol yarn for durability and style.
- Classic
- Heritage
- Classic
- Heritage
Shops run by brands that make classic men's gilets
6 of the 13 brands that make classic men's gilets have a shop you can visit: 4 in London, others in Axminster and Compton Dundon.
Axminster
Fortisfactory shop
Compton Dundon
British Sheepskinfactory shop
This independent directory lists UK-made clothing brands, and marks those that make only some items here.Why choose British-made?
A Brief History of British Made Gilets & Vests
The words “gilet” and “vest” both describe sleeveless upper-body garments, but they have different histories. “Gilet” is French for waistcoat, and dictionaries trace it through Spanish to the Turkish word yelek. In Britain today a gilet usually means a sleeveless jacket that closes at the neck, often padded for warmth. “Vest” has a British story of its own. In October 1666 King Charles II introduced a new fashion at court, which the diarist Samuel Pepys recorded as “a vest”. This long garment, worn under an open coat, developed into the waistcoat, a lasting part of men’s tailored dress. In British English “vest” now usually means a close-fitting undershirt, while in American English it still means a waistcoat. In modern menswear, gilets and vests are worn for practical layering in cooler weather and as part of casual, country and smart-casual dress, keeping the body warm while leaving the arms free. British makers draw on both tailoring and outdoor wear, using good cloth and careful construction to make garments that balance warmth, freedom of movement and everyday use.