Golden Shears

Golden Shears is the bi-annual competition that supports the tailors of the future. Tailoring students and apprentices from throughout the country vie for the coveted Golden Shears awards, with prizes totalling £4,500.
Each entrant makes a tailored outfit for first stage judging by top bespoke tailors. Marks are awarded for technical skill－design, cutting and tailoring.The 25 entrants with the highest marks go forward to the gala catwalk show at Merchant Taylors’ Hall. At this prestigious event finalists’ garments are shown by professional catwalk models to an audience from the City, fashion, tailoring and education worlds. A panel of five VIP judges mark the garments for style.

After many successful competitions the Company and the trade decided to support craft training by awarding the Golden Shears to the business with the best training record. Marks were awarded according to trainees’ City & Guilds exam results and the company with the highest overall score received the Golden Shears.