Emma Willis Ltd was launched in 1989 after working with different menswear companies
1989, focusing on bespoke shirts made in England from the finest materials.
Her shop was set up on London’s Jermyn street I’m 2000 which is a few meters sways from Clarence House, Prince Charles London residence.
Prince of Wales, Charles made a visit to Emma Willis in Gloucestershire on Monday, and when he was gifted a shirt after a tour of the factory floor and cutting room, he said;
“Very kind of you – you’ve got my measurements. I struggle to keep them the same, a never-ending battle.”
Emma Willis spoke on how she began sewing for the royal:
“I was approached by one of his dressers about six years ago, and the dresser said His Royal Highness would like to try my shirts. So I went to Clarence House and measured His Royal Highness for the first time and we’ve been making his shirts ever since. And one of the things we specialise in is very fine Swiss cotton and he loves lovely soft fabrics.”
In 2008, Emma set up a charity which provides complimentary smart clothing, bespoke regimental walking sticks and reunion parties for injured service men and women and in 2018, the charity put on Art In The Aftermath, an exhibition of painting, poetry, film and sculpture by injured service personnel recovering through the creative process from the trauma of war.
After his tour, Prince Charles thanked Ms Willis for her work:
“I just wanted to come really to thank you, more than anything, for the wonderful things you do, apart from making fantastic shirts and boxer shorts and everything else. But everything you do for our armed forces and all those who had the horror of being wounded in one way or another, it is a wonderful thing you do.”
