When it came to putting together a range of scissors for Merchant & Mills we decided to go back to the city most associated with quality cutting tools: Sheffield. We went to a factory that supplies Saville Row – our great street of British Tailors, and chose some tools that will last a lifetime. Our Philosophy is: buy once – quality will be remembered long after the price is forgotten.

Tailor’s Shears 10″

Our 10” Scissors from Sheffield are chromed by a unique process, giving the blades a sharp, smooth knife edge. They can be sharpened again and again.

Buttonhole Scissors

The buttonhole scissors are superbly useful for cutting through any thick fabric or layers. With their over sized handles and short sharp blades they handle trimming away and buttonholes in thick fabric like no small sewing scissors can.

Thread Clips

The name says it all. Stash them beside your sewing machine or dangle them from you index finger like a gunslinger. They make it swift and simple to rid yourself of all those pesky threads. Fine blades cut close to the fabric giving a neat, perfect thread-free finish to all your dressmaking.

Pinking Shears

Made in Italy and finished in Sheffield, these 8” pinking shears are very high quality scissors with traditional black enamelled handles. They are a rare find, beautifully sharp right to the tips.

Wide Bow Scissors

Wide bow scissors means that the hole for your fingers is extra large, allowing for accurate and firm control. At just 4″ (10cm) long they are extremely sharp and endlesly useful a deep, permanent black steel.

You know you want it

Our utilitarian approach continues a long tradition of clear, bold packaging using everyday materials: white labels, small brown envelopes and folded paper in varying configurations. And quite a lot of black ink.

We like stark design and clear words. We reference our roots. We acknowledge the 21st Century.

We’d have a long way to row without bridges and this is our favorite example. Ironbridge, in Shropshire. Since 1779 awestruck engineering pilgroms and ordinary folk have journeyed here to marvel at the world’s first cast-iron bridge. Built by Abraham Darby III and now recognised as one of the great symbols of the Industrial Revolution, the remarkable structure still serves the small town that bears its name.

It’s on our inspiration board this month. Style = Function – over a river.

Its all about silhouette, no fuss, no extras, no decorations, leaving beautifully clean sculptural designs. Cut in beautiful cloth every line considered and perfect.This is serious fashion its not made for girls its made for women .

If life was fair I would have a wardrobe full of Balenciaga dresses.