Menswear

Hire Authority On the suit side, the shop carry a huge range of both their own unique stock and outfits supplied by a wholesaler, to ensure all shapes and sizes can be accommodated although not everyone arrived knowing what they want, ”Some do” says Andrew, “it depends. The lads from around Stockport maybe not so much but if they’re coming in from Bramhall or somewhere like that, then yes. A lot of people come in with a picture on their phones and say ‘can you do something like that?’ We had a group in recently and the groom said ‘I think I’ll have the trousers showing a bit of ankle’ at which point I came out and said ‘look.. you’re going to a wedding...’ and he said ‘yes, I suppose you’re right.’” Often the groom can be kept in check by the bride, because if you hadn’t noticed, half the shop frontage announces the presence of ‘Dress The Bride’ which is situated upstairs. This operation is a separate business to Freedmans but obviously the two work very well together - for one thing the Freedmans get their windows properly dressed for free. David and Andrew are both inseparable from the business, spending more hours there than they really need to. David sees it as a way of keeping active and Andrew says “I don’t take my day off. I’d rather be down here than not.” As things stand, there might not be a fifth generation of Freedman to carry on the shop which will be a shame but let’s hope that the shop has a long future regardless. As they point out, they offer a very specific service and it is one that not many other people seem keen on providing to the standard necessary. @freedmansmenswear

The shop on Princes Street

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