Menswear
Contemporary British-Made Men's Gilets, Vests and Body Warmers — Voted by the Community
This directory lists 7 brands that make contemporary men's gilets in the UK. They are most often based in London. Prices run from premium to luxury. Ranked by community upvotes.
WAWWA
WAWWA is a Manchester clothing brand making functional, gender-inclusive everyday wear in its own UK factory. They work to a pre-order model, use organic and recycled materials, and pay the real Living Wage.
- Casual
- Contemporary
- Ethical
Shop to visit- Casual
- Contemporary
- Ethical
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
See these brands on the map16 places from 7 brands, 9 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
Darzi Clothing Co.
Darzi Clothing Co. is a British heritage brand founded in 2014, specialising in sustainably sourced, expertly crafted men's outerwear and accessories made exclusively in England.
- Contemporary
- Contemporary
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
Pajotten
Pajotten is a British clothing brand founded in 2016, designing and making garments to order in the UK. Discover their contemporary, utility-focused collection.
- Contemporary
- Ethical
- Workwear
Shop to visit- Contemporary
- Ethical
- Workwear
Maude & Fox
Maude & Fox is a British brand established in 2012, known for reinventing traditional British tweed with classic designs and a contemporary edge.
- Contemporary
- Country
- Outdoor
- Contemporary
- Country
- Outdoor
Shops run by brands that make contemporary men's gilets
5 of the 7 brands that make contemporary men's gilets have a shop you can visit: 3 in London, others in Manchester and Tenterden.
Tenterden
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.