Top maker Mandeville London, whose bespoke wigs are hand-crafted to look and move as naturally as the real thing, plans to unveil new half-wig, lower cost options this year as it expands its ready-made collection.
Founded in 1969 when it began selling toupees to barbers, Robert Frostick, Janet Daly and Joanna Pickering head today’s company after their management-buyout nine years ago.
Their redeveloped base is an elegant townhouse in west London where discretion rules and by appointment, no-obligation consultations are free.
Here the company receives clients from all over the world, the majority women who return regularly.
Company turnover is forecast to reach £1million in 2024/25 and growth is close to 10 percent.
While having a website has increased global awareness, societal change and social media with its increased emphasis on visual appearance are having a big impact on demand for Mandeville’s products, both their full wigs and super popular topper half versions.
Medical drivers include chemotherapy treatments for cancer, which can cause temporary hair loss, thinning or female pattern baldness triggered by the menopause where women need a bit more hair, long term alopecia resulting in patchy hair loss and, more recently, frontal fibrosis alopecia.
This is where hair recedes from the forehead and for which Mandeville has developed special cover-up pieces.
On the looks side, cosmetic volume fashions such as hair extensions damaging hair follicles and roots have also been a Mandeville sales booster.
Its key innovation, developed with Sheffield University, is its strong, fine foundation net that allows the scalp to breathe, yet weighs less than a gram and is very mouldable, enabling the perfect head shape.
“We use it along with our unique knotting patterns which replicate the pattern of natural hair growth, including the spiral of the crown,” explains Frostick.
“The net’s polymer is safe for the skin and can seal the knot in different growth directions so when brushed back the hair has lift and bounce. Synthetic wigs in contrast are too flat and dense at the roots.”
Seen as an investment by many – some customers forgo holidays to own one, Mandeville’s made-to-measure wigs take five months to craft by a skilled, outsourced network of artisans.
These currently cost up to £6,500. The ready-made range comes in three sizes and 11 colours, for further prices see below.
The company works with European-type hair, sourcing from ethical merchants rather than individuals. Prior to the war there, much came from Ukraine.
“The conflict has posed a challenge,” says Frostick, who is also keen to find more suppliers of unbleached silver grey hair as demand is growing in this area too.
“The issue here is we need bunches of eight-inch strands and that’s not so common,” he adds.
Seasoned rockers sporting ponytails may be more asset-rich than they think.
Mandeville wig cost guide: Ready Made full wig : £4,450
Ready made half wig : £3,990
Made to Measure full wig : from £5,460
Made to Measure half wig from £ 5,160)
New more affordable wig expected to cost around £3000
