Elizabeth Kading started five8ths in 2010 because she struggled to find the kind of high-quality custom-made shirts she was looking for. With a background in theatre costume design and having studied fine art she brings into her shirt making the meticulous design, construction and flair from these disciplines.

The name is drawn from the standard measurement once used for seam allowances on vintage home sewing patterns, five8ths of an inch.

Kading says she wants to evoke an era when quality, fit, and craftsmanship were something that general consumers valued, and not just a part of the luxury market. This is anti-fast fashion, bent on style and less wastefulness.

Every garment you’ll find here is handmade using fine sewing techniques. You get to choose your fabric, mainly cottons and linens from Italy, Japan, and South Africa. Fittings will follow and soon you’ll have a form-fitting shirt made for your body and style. Definitely worth the wait. The store also stocks handmade accessories including ties.