Jade Shemwell
- Our Master Craftsman, Director, and renowned 12” Classic Tailors Shears, are featured in a new episode of The Wall Street Journal’s ‘Coveted’ series.
- The Wall Street Journal has reached over 40 million digital readers per month (1) and has nearly 4 million (digital) subscribers (2), showcasing our story and scissors for a global audience.
- Find out why Whiteley shears make the cut for Savile Row tailors and customers worldwide, and how craftsmanship shaped the tale of a generational Sheffield scissor rivalry.
At Whiteley, crafting exceptional scissors and shears has been at the heart of our craft for 265 years. We are thrilled to share that we have been featured in a new video by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which celebrates the craftsmanship, tradition, and Whiteley’s pivotal role in heritage scissor-making.
Keep reading to uncover the history and craftsmanship behind our scissors, which have stood the test of time:
Showcased in The Wall Street Journal
The video – part of the WSJ’s ‘Coveted’ series – explores the fascinating world behind some of the world’s most prized tailor’s shears, including Whiteley’s 12” Classic Tailors Shears, and the craft that shapes them.
We were delighted to welcome the WSJ Team into our workshop in Sheffield to speak with our Director, Gautam Bathija, and Master Craftsman, Andrew Colton, about why our scissors and shears are treasured globally. Our customers not only recognise the Whiteley brand for superior performance, but the care and expertise our scissors are made with.
As a British manufacturer in an era of mass production, we also discussed some of the challenges that Whiteley has faced along the way, and how we have overcome these through passing skills down to keep the tradition alive.
Savile Row’s High Praise for Whiteley
For Victoria Townsend, Founder of The London Academy of Bespoke, shears are her “most important tool.” Victoria features in the video discussing why a reliable pair of shears are crucial in the tailoring industry as “you don’t want to have to buy tool after tool; it’s just not cost-effective.”
Generational craftsmanship is mentioned frequently when discussing heritage-led businesses and the skills passed down. At Whiteley, we not only recognise this within our own workforce past and present, but also within our customers lives and professions. Victoria’s “shears were handed to (her). They’re an old pair of Wilkinson’s. They were 120 years old. It just felt magical because it was the perfect fit, and in an industry where fit and balance are so important, it clicked.”
Our Director, Gautam Bathija, proudly reiterates Victoria’s point that by having a pair of reliable shears “they are guaranteed for life.”
To hear more about why Whiteley’s scissors and shears are globally renowned for tailoring, watch the full video here:
Reference List:
1. Dow Jones & CO, Inc. WSJ.com audience profile [Internet]. 2017. Available from: https://images.dowjones.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/183/2018/05/09164150/WSJ.com-Audience-Profile.pdf
2. Tobitt C. 100k Club: 2025 ranking of world’s biggest news publishers by digital subscribers. Press Gazette [Internet]. 2025 May 28; Available from: https://pressgazette.co.uk/paywalls/digital-subscribers-100k-club-ranking-worlds-biggest-paywalled-news-publishers-2025/
From the beginning of our journey, Whiteley has upheld the highest standards for hand-made scissors and shears. As the oldest scissor manufacturer in the Western world, every pair leaving our workshop embodies generations of skill and a commitment to quality.
Our scissors and shears are meticulously handmade, assembled, and tested by skilled craftsmen using techniques passed down from master to apprentice. Whether for specialist skills such as bespoke tailoring, or for personal use, Whiteley scissors and shears are for life – you will never need another pair.