Fusion of Traditions: House of Gillani's Luxury Thobes Blend Eastern Craftsmanship and Western Tailoring

Philosophy, Politics and Economics undergraduate Mr. Syed Gillani is the founder of clothing business House of Gillani. 

This luxury clothing brand specializes in creating bespoke thobes, drawing inspiration from the renowned tailoring traditions of Savile Row. The company offers a diverse range of thobes, including ready-to-order options and custom-made designs tailored specifically to customers' measurements and preferences.

A thobe is a long, loose-fitting robe commonly worn in Arab countries, crafted from lightweight fabrics, and often adorned with traditional embroidery or stitching.

Syed: At House of Gillani, we take pride in seamlessly blending the expertise of Eastern cloth weaving with Western sartorial tailoring techniques. Our thobes are meticulously crafted using the finest quality fabrics sourced from the East, while incorporating the precision and attention to detail synonymous with the tailoring practices of Savile Row.

Whether you choose a ready-to-order thobe or opt for our bespoke tailoring service, you can expect the utmost in craftsmanship, quality, and style. Our team of skilled artisans and tailors ensures that each thobe is made to the highest standards, paying careful attention to every stitch and detail. House of Gillani strives to create thobes that exude luxury and elegance while reflecting the individuality and personal style of our discerning clientele.

The idea for House of Gillani originated when I came across a gap in the market for bespoke tailoring in traditional Eastern clothing while working in the space of luxury design. 

Utilising my background in sartorial tailoring from one of the oldest suiting houses in the world, I was inspired to merge the principles of British tailoring with the creation of luxury thobes. 

I envisioned a house that would combine the craftsmanship and attention to detail seen in classic British suiting with fabrics from the east. Motivated by this vision, I established the House of Gillani. The founding of the company in August 2022 marked the beginning of our journey to offer exquisite, personalized unique thobes to our clientele.

House of Gillani received invaluable support from the B-Enterprising team during our start-up journey. The start-up fund award provided financial assistance that helped us cover the initial costs of setting up our business. This support played a crucial role in establishing a solid foundation for House of Gillani, enabling us to invest in essential resources, materials, and equipment.

With a background in sartorial tailoring from one of the oldest suiting houses in the world, Mr. Gillani was inspired to merge the principles of British tailoring with the creation of luxury thobes. He envisioned a house that would combine the craftsmanship and attention to detail seen in classic British suiting traditions with the rich heritage of Eastern textiles. 

House of Gillani received invaluable support from the B-Enterprising team during our start-up journey. The start-up fund award provided financial assistance that helped us cover the initial costs of setting up our business. 

This support played a crucial role in establishing a solid foundation for House of Gillani, enabling us to invest in essential resources, materials, and equipment.

Furthermore, the guidance and information provided by the B-Enterprising team have been instrumental in shaping the direction of our business for the future. 

Their expertise and insights helped us navigate the complexities of the industry and make informed decisions regarding our strategies, market positioning, and growth plans. Their advice and mentorship provided us with valuable perspectives and helped us refine our business plans going forward.

Best aspects of starting a business:

Creative fulfilment: Being able to bring your unique vision to life and create something that reflects your passion is incredibly fulfilling.

Independence and control: As a business owner, you have the freedom to make decisions and shape the direction of your company, allowing you to implement your ideas and strategies without external limitations.This autonomy allows you to implement your ideas and strategies without external limitations.

Customer satisfaction: Providing customers with bespoke thobes tailored to their preferences and measurements can result in a high level of customer satisfaction. Seeing your customers delighted with their personalized garments is incredibly rewarding.

Greatest challenges running a business:

Operational challenges: Running a business involves managing various operational aspects, such as supply chain, production, and logistics. Balancing these elements can be demanding and requires meticulous attention to detail.

Financial uncertainty: Providing customers with bespoke thobes tailored to their preferences and measurements can result in a high level of customer satisfaction. Seeing your customers delighted with their personalized garments is incredibly rewarding.

Work-life balance: As a business owner, the line between work and personal life can become blurred. The dedication and commitment required to establish and grow a successful business often mean long hours and limited leisure time.

One thing that I wish I knew before starting House of Gillani is the specific challenges and intricacies involved in harmonizing Eastern traditions with Western sartorial sensibilities. While I had a background in sartorial tailoring and recognized the market gap, the process of effectively combining these two distinct traditions presented unforeseen obstacles. 

Having an existing understanding of the complexities in sourcing fabrics and adapting them to Western tailoring techniques and ensuring a seamless integration of these elements could have provided valuable insights and allowed for more strategic planning from the outset. However, over time we have gained invaluable experience and expertise, refined our processes and ensuring the highest level of craftsmanship and customer satisfaction.

Understanding the complexities in sourcing fabrics and adapting them to Western tailoring techniques and ensuring a seamless integration of these elements could have provided valuable insights and allowed for more strategic planning from the outset. However, over time we have gained invaluable experience and expertise, refined our processes and ensuring the highest level of craftsmanship and customer satisfaction.

The biggest takeaway from our experience at House of Gillani has been the importance of combining tradition with innovation. By merging Eastern cloth expertise with Western sartorial traditions, we have created a unique offering that appeals to our discerning clientele.

This experience has taught us that honouring tradition while embracing innovation is a powerful approach to business. It allows us to preserve the rich heritage while infusing it with a new found precision and sophistication. This balance has been key to our success and has set us apart in the luxury thobe market.

Furthermore, our experience has reinforced the significance of customer-centricity. By offering bespoke tailoring and personalized services, we have created a strong connection with our customers and deliver garments that truly reflect their individuality and style. Understanding and meeting the needs and desires of our customers has been instrumental in building brand loyalty and driving our growth.

Therefore, our biggest takeaway from the House of Gillani's experience is the power of merging tradition with innovation and prioritizing customer satisfaction. By staying true to our roots while embracing modernity, we have been able to establish ourselves as a reputable and distinctive luxury clothing brand.

We have invested significant time and effort in perfecting our craft, sourcing the finest fabrics, and assembling a team of skilled artisans and tailors who share our commitment to quality and excellence. Since our inception, we have grown steadily, gaining recognition for our unique approach and luxurious thobes.

Our commitment to personalized service and attention to detail has garnered a loyal customer base that appreciates the bespoke experience and the distinctive garments we create.

To ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction, we have expanded our offerings beyond ready-to-order thobes to include our bespoke tailoring service.

This allows customers to have thobes tailored specifically to their measurements and preferences, ensuring a perfect fit and a truly personalized garment.

Moreover, we have established strong relationships with our fabric suppliers, both in the East and the West, to maintain a steady supply of premium materials. This enables us to consistently deliver thobes of exceptional quality, reflecting the core values of our company.

Looking forward, our goal is to continue pushing boundaries and innovating within the realm of luxury thobes. We aspire to expand our reach, both locally and globally, and introduce our unique blend of tradition and modernity to a wider audience.

We are proud of our journey and the progress we have made so far, but we remain committed to growth and improvement. House of Gillani is dedicated to providing our customers with exquisite, personalized thobes that embody the intersection of Eastern craftsmanship and Western tailoring, ensuring that each garment is a work of art, made with passion and meticulous attention to detail.

With thanks to Mr Syed Gillani
Added by Bob Lee