Ian Herdman has been designing and making bespoke sewn products for yachts for the past 10 years. His background in luxury merchandising has helped him to create yacht-specific solutions that are highly practical, but also look great. Here he gives his top tips to Chief Stews and HOH on the small products that help to make a big impact, improve efficiency, save precious time and help to further refine the guest experience.
Laundry bags
Ordered in robust canvas these are durable, smart and easy to wash. For extra ease with sorting and returning laundry quickly, make sure to add a number or name for each cabin. Deep colours are more practical as less likely to show any marks.
Bed Linen
Consider having the same colour sheets throughout to make it easier on the laundry. Have an identifying label sewn in the reverse instead or distinct coloured piping to help speed the process.
Use a caddy
No one wants to see cleaning products inside guest cabins or being moved around onboard. Instead of visible cleaning cloths and sprays, invest in easy-clean caddies with compartments for all your essentials and a discreet flap that covers any unsightly accoutrements.
Water-resistant beach bags
These look smart with the vessel’s logo embroidered and are loved by guests. They can also help avoid wet swimwear and towel marks spoiling a freshly made bed.
Table Protectors
This fine layer not only softens the impact on expensive easily marked surfaces but also helps whiten the look of tablecloths and gives a soft ‘fine dining’ feel to the table. Get them made-to-measure in soft towelling with a drawstring elasticated edge This allows quick changes when needed and the ability to be washed along with a standard white laundry load.
Quilted drawstring bags
When packing up the boat, these are your best friend as they protect fragile items that need to be stored. They are reusable, drastically reduce the need for bubble wrap and are compact enough to be easily stowed when not in use.
Be cautious with Velcro
The rough side will ruin other fabrics, especially towelling. It is handy, but think carefully about where and how you use it. It can also destroy expensive fabrics in the wash and the tumble dryer. If you use Velcro for seating covers, ensure only the soft part is on the fabric, leaving the rough textured side on the furniture structure only.
For more expert guidance on bespoke sewn products for your vessel, contact Ian Herdman Design.
Ian Herdman Design
https://www.ianherdmandesign.com
@herdmanian
+ 34 633 849 276
