Inside the toreador tailors: Intricate designs and delicate stitching of the elaborate costumes worn by the world's best bullfighters



Master tailor Fermin Lopez Fuentes founded his bullfighters' bespoke tailor shop in 1963

Fermin's is one of only six specialist tailors in Spain to make only bullfighting costumes



The shop, now run by Fermin's brother Antonion, has created costumes for some of the world's best bullfighters




With their intricate designs and delicate stitching, you could be forgiven for thinking these elaborate costumes are destined for ballet dancers or musicians.



But these outfits are in fact specifically designed for bullfighters to wear in the ring before a charging 1,100-pound bull.



Master tailor Fermin Lopez Fuentes founded his bullfighters' bespoke tailor shop in 1963 and it has made outfits for some of the best bullfighters in the business.



The shop called Fermin, based in Madrid, Spain, is now run by the founder's brother Antonio with the help of an experienced team of tailors.

Costumes, which take a team of tailors weeks to make, can cost anything from a couple of hundred of euros to many thousands.

Fermin, as one of only six specialist tailors in Spain to make only bullfighting costumes, also makes many of the outfits for Spain's famous San Fermin festival which sees the country's best matadors show off their skills every July.

Getting ready for the ring: Master tailor Antonio Lopez Fuentes checks the measurements of a new costume for French bullfighter Juan Bautista Jalabert at 'Fermin' bullfighters tailor shop in Madrid, Spain

Hard at work: It takes a dedicated team of tailors several weeks to make just one suits which can cost anything between a couple of hundred euros to thousands