Whitchurch Silk Mill in Hampshire, England, is weaving the silk worn by George Washington to his first inaugural ball in 1789. The Georgian mill has been commissioned to weave an authentic replica of the original fabric as part of a remarkable project led by bespoke tailor and Associate Collections Specialist in the Ratti Textile Centre at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philip De Paola.

De Paola, who recently finished his master’s thesis at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, aims to create a faithful reproduction of Washington’s silk suit. The finished suit will eventually be displayed at The Morristown National Historical Park in New Jersey, the institution that holds the original.

The original suit, which was intended to go on display for the United States’ 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, has been deemed too fragile and discoloured to exhibit. Instead, the replica will take centre stage, allowing visitors to connect with a pivotal moment in American history through a meticulously recreated symbol of leadership and legacy.

To ensure accuracy, the original suit was studied in exceptional detail, documenting measurements, weaving structures and materials used. An exact pattern was created, and the original colour of the silk was determined by analysing unfaded sections of the garment and testing fibre samples for dye content at the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute.

Using this information and photographs of the original fabric fragments magnified, Whitchurch Silk Mill will replicate both the weave and the distinctive colour of the original fabric. Once complete, the silk will be transformed into a completely hand-sewn recreation of Washington’s historic suit, offering museum visitors a vivid and tangible link to the founding of the United States. Thanks to the Victorian machinery still in operation today, the mill can authentically recreate historic fabric characteristics, like the signature striped selvedge; a detail a mill with modern machinery can rarely replicate.

With a rich history of weaving for iconic brands, blockbuster films, and a recent collaboration with Jane Austen’s House, Whitchurch Silk Mill is the perfect setting for a project steeped in historical fashion and textile conservation.

Jessica Bone, Commercial Director of Whitchurch Silk Mill said, “We are honoured to contribute to this significant project. The opportunity to produce artisan cloth for display at Morristown National Historical Park, in commemoration of such an important anniversary, is both a privilege and a testament to the enduring relevance of traditional craftsmanship.”

The silk has been wound on to 340 bobbins and threading by hand of all 10,996 ends of silk has begun. Once complete, weaving will begin, and visitors to the Mill will be able to see this fabric in production over the coming weeks in the historic Grade II* Mill on the banks of the River Test, operating as a working museum. The Mill is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30 am to 5pm.

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