I recently stepped behind the cutting table of Viennese bespoke tailor Hedi Rochowanski. Her light-filled atelier—stocked with decade-old shears, royal fire-gilded buttons, and a fitting room large enough for an opera costume change—shows how traditional craft and modern style converge to create garments that outlast generations.
Curious to see it all for yourself? Scroll down and hit play to join me on the full workshop tour.
Bespoke Tailoring in Vienna: Inside Hedi Rochowanski’s Atelier
Touring a Workshop Steeped in Craft
From a century-old cutting table to hand-sharpened shears and a fitting room roomy enough for opera costumes, I guide you through every corner of Hedi’s workspace. Along the way, you’ll see how each tool, fabric bolt, and vintage sewing machine still earns its keep in daily bespoke production.
Why This Atelier Tour Will Sharpen Your Eye for Quality
Watching Hedi explain her methods—shrinking lapels with steam, choosing fire-gilded buttons, reviving 1930s morning coats—revealing the quiet details that separate heirloom garments from fast fashion. By the end of the tour, you’ll spot craftsmanship cues that most shoppers miss.
“I always like the old stuff and the quality of the old stuff.”
Hedi Rochowanski, Bespoke Tailor
Highlights from this Video
“Those are my cutting shears… at least 17 years."
Hedi explains why true tailoring shears stay on the table, gliding for perfectly straight cuts.
“It was a bookcase, of course, but it's perfect for cloth.”
See how a rescued villa bookcase found a second life cradling tweed, loden, cashmere, and more.
“They were especially made for a certain shop in Vienna.”
Gutermann sells one black today; this century-old batch offered ten.
“Well, that's lovely. That's like sustainability at its core.”
A vintage morning coat gets a fresh waistcoat, proving true bespoke can be revived and re-loved.
“How was it for you becoming tailor as a woman?”
Ready to hear Hedi’s answer? Head to this part!
Follow Hedi on Instagram!
What We Were Wearing
Raphael strikes an effortless balance between nautical tradition and modern ease. He anchors the look with a navy single-breasted blazer trimmed in brass buttons, then lightens the palette with stone-beige chinos for crisp contrast.
For pattern interest, he introduces a silk tie woven with neat, coffee-brown micro rings, echoing the warm tones of his suede chukka boots while remaining understated enough for daytime wear. Tucked into the breast pocket is Fort Belvedere’s White Linen Pocket Square with Navy Shoestring Edge.
A discreet spray of Blue Suede Shoes adds the final flourish: opening with an electrifying hit of bergamot, lavender, anise, and pepper, the fragrance settles into spicy-woody heart and base notes that lend heft without heaviness, much like the ensemble itself, approachable yet unmistakably refined.
Learn from Hedi what the Viennese Style is!
Ask the Expert
How many fittings does Hedi require for a first-time client?
Four in total: one consultation to choose cloth and take measurements, three in-person fittings, and finally a pickup visit. Once a client’s pattern is dialed in, two fittings usually suffice.
Why does Hedi insist on a six-month lead time before the first stitch?
Each order joins a queue of existing work, allowing six months to ensure she can draft, cut, and sew without rushing any handwork. The result is a calmer workflow and garments that age gracefully instead of merely meeting deadlines.
What makes Austrian Loden different from ordinary wool coating?
Loden is first woven, then aggressively shrunk and felted, producing a dense, weather-resistant cloth that can be milled as heavy as an overcoat or as light as summer suiting. Its deep greens and greys—coloured in the fibre, not merely the yarn—have kept Austrians warm since Roman times.
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Strange no Jewish tailors now in Vienna after last being in 1938 seen scrubbing the pavements there on their way to unknown destinations in the country. Sorry to “throw a spanner in the works” and heaven forbid not to agree with most there that Austria was the first “victim” of AH
Thank you for the excellent and interesting video.
If you still are in Vienna, a visit to Kastner and Dronia?
I noticed a Hussmueller coat in your hands. A dicussion concerning cloth, style and handwork in such older superb suits compared to what you can buy today, would be of great interest.
Even a visit (disclosure) to any competent alteration tailors who can make such an older garment suit younger generations, would be very interesting
As a person who’s a bit “hard to fit,” I rejoiced about 12 years back when a retired cutter from Liverpool helped my wife make me a loden waistcoat/vest and sent her a pattern for pants that fit me perfectly. Sadly, the cutter died during the epidemic (of heart disease), so we’ll need to be a bit creative to make a pair of Bundhosen/plus fours that I’ve wanted since I visited Austria and Germany. (or I’ll need to get some money and get us over there for an extended vacation in Vienna)
Put for the uninitiated; it’s not cheap or easy, but custom fit can be wonderful.
Side note; as a person who speaks German as a second language, it was fun for me to see two native German speakers make do in their second language. I understand the difficulty!
Das war Wunderbar- ein Stuck Alt-Wien. Tradition und Qualitat Fortgesetzt. Herzlichen Dank