EVENING STYLE JAMBOREE

The City hosted one of its better dressed events earlier this year, when the annual dinner of the tailors took place at the Merchant Taylors Hall, hard by the Bank of England.

This used to be a men-only event and is still predominantly male, only a few wives brought along as guests.  Yet despite the absence of many ladies in colourful finery – or perhaps because of it – the style impact is impressive, all these tailors, with very few exceptions, showing off in impeccable black dinner suits and  white shirts.

The main emphasis was upon slightly shaped jackets, natural shoulders, some shawl collars, some peaked, with straight trousers. In shirts, there were few wing collars - though we did note one with a terrible made-up bow with band that actually rested on the wearer’s neck at the back - and thankfully no frills.

At one time, the UK clothing trade had evening occasions of this sort for all of its many branches. Now, this event, in aid of the Master Tailors' Benevolent Association charity, is almost the only one still taking place. Record numbers attended this time, which says something about the state of the trade, and after some years in the position, Angus Cundey of Henry Poole stood down as President, to be replaced by Cameron Buchanan, pictured above with Emma Wallis.

Cameron is an affable Scot, well known man-about-town in Edinburgh and long-time figure on the textile scene with the Harrisons of Edinburgh collection. He is a director of UK Fashion Exports, a High Constable of Leith and Honorary Consul for Iceland

He brought some colour to the evening, wearing a tartan vest, instead of the full Highland dress that he often wears to functions. He will remain as President for a five year term.

Above, Richard Anderson and his wife Fran, and right, JohnWilson and Liz Fox who head up the British Clothing Industry Association, which has taken the Federation of Merchant Tailors Association under its wing.

Below, from left to right: Trainees (see story right) Dhamesh Parmar, Chandanie Odedra, Harry Gillan, Jennie Adamson, Peter Coates, Claire Davison, Christopher Bull and Andrew Ramroop and his wife Oma. .