I CAN’T WAIT TO MEET: GODWIN CHARLI
28 February 2024 | Words by Hannah Schmidt-Rees
“Godwin Charli’s owner and creator, Godwin Hili has always been intertwined with style, tailoring and emphasis on the perfect fit.”
Imagine clean cotton, breathable linens, luxurious velvet and soft cashmere. Imagine the perfect fit, immaculately tailored to your measurements, physique, posture and personal style. Imagine a handcrafted, tailor-made suit created by one of Australian’s finest ateliers; Godwin Charli.
Godwin Charli’s focus on the ideal fit was born from Hili’s own journey with made-to-measure clothing. His mother was a dressmaker, altering or creating custom clothing to fit Hili’s slim build as a child. As Hili explored his own personal style, his father’s vintage European wardrobe served as inspiration to get his own custom suits made from Melbourne-based ateliers. Throughout Hili’s life, others have always turned to him for his opinions on personal style and mens suiting, planting the seed for Godwin Charli, the idea of providing hand-crafted, made to order and personalised suiting for all.
Inclusivity is becoming an understandably important need for all consumers, and Godwin Charli has been providing inclusivity since its inception in 2007. Providing tailoring for both physical measurements and personal fit preferences, a visit to Godwin Charli is not your average buying experience. Stock sheets of fabrics swatches and a few swings of a measuring tape is not the kind of inclusivity Godwin Charli provides. Each detail is discussed and tailored to you (pun not intentional), and your wants and needs are respected and brought to life through each fabric choice, each style and each stitch.
“There is a massive confidence play here when it comes to suiting and wanting to come and shop with someone like me, because getting that fit just right to fit their body. Zero compromise.” - Godwin Hili
Godwin Charli doesn’t provide suiting pieces in standard sizing or a generic shopping experience. Each suit, regardless of your occasion, gender or age, begins with a fit profile. The usual measurement taking is a given, but Hili and his team of tailors will go above and beyond to ensure each detail is perfect, from the specific fabrication, silhouette, detailing and comfort. Each fabric is milled and woven in Europe, ranging from classic cotton and linen to elegant silk and versatile wool. This is what sets Godwin Charli apart from other suiting brands, the complete passion Hili embodies to ensure longevity and impeccable quality.
Throughout its 16 year lifespan, Godwin Charli has consistently evolved. Its roots are confidently settled in traditional suiting for menswear, 100% wool black tie single-breasted suits, styles that are reliable and renowned. As fashion evolved, as well as the demands for comfort and versatility due to the pandemic, Godwin Charli has followed suit. Traditional silhouettes have progressed to include vintage-inspired double-breasted jackets, as well as unstructured shoulders and relaxed fits. 100% wool sets are now allpurpose fabric blends, combining wool, linen and silk to ensure breathability and adaptable for all weather. Colours are more muted and natural, to be worn from day to night and across all occasions. Details are subtle yet distinctive, cotton pique, three-dimensional linen and seersucker added into the latest collection for both character and added lightness.
“The story doesn’t just start and finish with the customer, it’s also about the cloth itself. The mills I work with are hundreds of years old, and being able to share with the customer the origins of the cloth, that means a lot to them. They’re not just buying something generic, they’re buying something that means something”
Womenswear has also followed the same path, as classic patterns are reinvented with a modern and effortless fit. Limited edition fabrics, such as the multicoloured check using wool, silk, alpaca and mohair, uses the traditional checkered pattern and imbues it with striking colours; pink, blue and orange interwoven with beige and white. Single-breasted, double-breasted, sleek or structured, each piece ensures comfort through the perfectly tailored fit. Within the latest collection, military inspired detailing and waterproof fabrics combine with light watercolour floral prints and traditional capes, a subtle nod to the different purposes of clothing; to empower, to comfort, to present or just to wear.
Godwin Charli has also expanded its range to include golfwear, casual knitwear, technical jackets, sneakers and dress shoes. The combination of high-quality materials, bespoke stitching and tailored fits ensures sustainability and longevity, each piece is built to adapt and built to last.
“Having a model that’s pretty much zero waste. Only making what my clients wants. Ordering what only my client wants and needs. Working with the best mills in the world who have had to adapt themselves to being more sustainable enterprises. So, everyone’s doing their part, and I couldn’t be prouder of that in terms of the human environmental point of view and the impact on future generations.” - Godwin Hili
With Godwin Charli, you’re not just buying a new suit or a new piece of clothing. You’re buying a wardrobe staple, a sustainable and long-lasting garment, a sentimental piece for an important point (or points) for your life where you need to look good and feel confident. 4-5 weeks to wait and a tailor-made suit is ready to meet you.
“At that second fitting, it gives me a kick, knowing that you’ve done good. You’ve brought joy to someone’s life and you know its going to help them be a better professional, be a better partner, meet that special someone. There’s just so many ways that we create excitement and positivity in people’s lives and the way they look.” - Godwin Hili