Inspired by Savile Row tailors, the Southern guys behind Ledbury Shirts create quality garments one spread collar at a time. A runner-up in last year's Made in the South Awards, Ledbury is a story of two Pauls, one from Virginia and one from Louisiana, who met in business school in London (Oxford, of course). Obsessed with high-end tailoring options across the pond, they found themselves increasingly disappointed by the lack of similar craftsmanship stateside. When the economic crisis derailed the finance jobs that seemed like their “safe” career paths post-business school, they decided to focus on their passion for menswear instead.

“For the better part of a year life went from crunching excel spreadsheets to measuring cuffs and collars,” they say. “And after countless attempts, we came up with a shirt that was not only a great fit and of the highest quality, but also added some innovation to the classic men’s design.” Now based in Richmond, VA, Ledbury is making a name for itself by letting the products do the talking.



As men's dress shirts go, Ledbury's offerings are an investment, but after road-testing the one picture here, I think it's worth the money. Here's why: The Italian cotton material and plaid design are great; the feel and colors are very rich. The construction is as nice as any shirt I own. The stitching is tight and specific. But the fit–that's what really sets a Ledbury shirt apart. I opted for a regular neck/sleeve measurement in the 'Slim Fit' cut, and it fits me like a glove. The collar sits a bit higher than most spread collar shirts–nice and regal looking. The armpits are high, giving it a leaner appearance. And the chest and waist are truly slim. Nothing mass-produce about these shirts–and it shows.



Visit them at their store in Richmond, or online.

Atlanta native Jay Sjoholm is the author of the Southern style blog Red Clay Soul