From the production line

Unretouched photos from our floor in Tirana, where 90% of the team are women, taken on the job. Grouped by the stage each shirt passes through.

1Sewing

Collars, cuffs, yokes and bodies come together on the line.

1.1 Fusing press with stacks of collar and cuff interlinings
Fusing press: collar and cuff interlinings, bonded before make-up
1.2 A line of Juki lockstitch machines with navy shirt panels
Juki DDL-9000B lockstitch line, navy panels in work
1.3 An operator sewing a navy uniform shirt on a Juki machine
Navy uniform shirt at the collar station
1.4 A Jack single-needle lockstitch machine with thread snips
Jack single-needle lockstitch station, threaded and ready
1.5 An operator feeding a white shirt into a Brother buttonhole machine
Buttonholing a white shirt on a Brother HE-800B

2Quality Control

Stitching, fabric and measurements checked at every stage.

2.1 Hand checking the collar band of a fine-stripe shirt
Collar band and stand checked on a fine-stripe shirt
2.2 Brand label and care label inside a striped shirt
Brand and care labels checked for position and content
2.3 Button-down collars on striped and white shirts
Button-down collars: point length and button placement
2.4 Thread snips trimming loose ends at the cuff of a white shirt
Loose threads trimmed at the cuff and sleeve placket
2.5 White shirt opened out to check the front placket and brand label
Front placket and brand label checked on a white shirt

3Finishing

Buttons, labels, pressing and the details that make a shirt look finished.

3.1 Collar with the client brand label and hang tag
Collar, brand label and hang tag
3.2 Cutaway collar on a striped shirt with a hang tag
Cutaway collar on a fine-stripe shirt, tagged
3.3 Steam iron resting on a pressing table beside a sleeve buck
Steam iron and sleeve buck at the pressing station
3.4 Cutaway collar on a fine-stripe shirt with clear collar supports fitted
Cutaway collar with clear collar supports fitted to hold the shape

4Final Inspection and Packing

Folded, bagged and cartoned to the client's requirements. Last, the finished shirt as it is worn.

4.1 Classic white shirt folded in a box with the client label
Classic white shirt, boxed under the client's label
4.2 Striped shirt with white contrast collar, folded in a box
Striped shirt with contrast collar and cuffs, boxed
4.3 Stacks of folded formal shirts
Formal shirts folded and stacked for a bulk order
4.4 Fine-stripe shirt with a cutaway collar and a black hang tag, ready for packing
Tagged and ready for packing
4.5 Striped button-down shirt folded on board with a De Jacobs label, size 16½/42
Button-down folded on board under the client's label, size 16½/42
4.6 Cuff and sleeve of a striped shirt being worn
Cuff and sleeve finish on a fine-stripe shirt
4.7 Sleeve placket and cuff of a linen gingham shirt with a red contrast bartack
Linen gingham: sleeve placket, two-button cuff, red contrast bartack
4.8 Front of a striped linen shirt with a band collar, worn
Band-collar linen stripe shirt, front: placket and cuffs
4.9 Back of a striped linen shirt with a band collar, worn
Same shirt from the back: yoke, sleeve heads and curved hem
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