From his grandfather’s workshop to Savile Row

• • Ayres was trained as a child by his grandfather
• • He mastered his technique in Savile Row
• • A single jacket can take up to 70 hours to be made

At the impressive age of seven, Ayres made his first bespoke piece, a denim waistcoat. As an even younger child, whenever he went to his grandparent’s atelier after school, his grandfather Ayres Carneiro da Silva – who was a first generation tailor who had learnt the art of tailoring in Italy – taught him. His passion for the craft led him to study at a prestigious tailoring academy in Spain, before realising his big dream of trying his hand at Savile Row, where he was successfully accepted into training with legendary tailor Andrés Gomez – the latter only taught four trainees, one of whom was Alexander McQueen. While at Savile Row, Ayres made suits for royalty and celebrities, before leaving for professional adventures in Hong Kong and New York. Now, Ayres is back at his family roots in Oporto, where he welcomes his own clients by appointment.