Some in the small world of bespoke suit-making, who are reliant on wealthy clients from the US or Middle East, were rocked by the closure of international travel.
Others have benefited from a stash of lockdown savings, and customers willingness to splash out to treat themselves after a gruelling year.
But all agree that the reopening of the High Street has sparked a boom.
Customers have flooded back in preparation for warmer weather, a summer of events and a year-long backlog of weddings, leading some tailors to report record sales. Of course I expect there to be Roaring Twenties styles, said Eddie Rowland, 72, who has owned a small shop called Redwood & Feller in Pimlico, London, since 1974 and made suits for billionaire businessmen, a few James Bonds, six prime ministers and one premier s partner – Denis Thatcher.