Get Shirty

Shirt-making was once big business in Northern Ireland – fuelled by Ulster’s linen industry – but has now almost vanished. A family-run company, Smyth & Gibson, has revived the tradition and, at its factory in a former railway station in Derry makes 1,000 luxury men’s shirts a week. They’re all hand-cut and sold through outlets including Brown Thomas in Dublin, Harrods, Bloomingdales in Chicago and smythandgibson.com with prices from £119 to £140.

The company also offers a bespoke service and its tailor will visit Brown Thomas, Dublin next Friday and Saturday, October 10th and 11th . Getting measured and selecting the fabric and collar style takes half an hour. Four weeks later, you try on the shirt and can make last-minute tweaks. The cost? Between €150 and €220. To make an appointment, call 01-6171161. Michael Parsons