TAILORED TO TOP SPORTSMEN

Cricketers are stylish – and that’s not just because they won the Ashes this summer. Both on and off the field they outclass footballers, who are usually a trifle flash, and rugby players, impaired by all those bulging muscles, and golfers – oh, those colours.

And helping to maintain the cricketers’ style image is a young tailoring company headed by two keen cricketers, NeilMcCann and Alex Katseph. They also make clothes for a wide circle of other top sports figures, and managers and sports commentators, so maybe it is  their influence that is responsible for a general style improvement in the sporting fraternity.

McCann Bespoke was  established ten years ago by Neil McCann, an excellent clothes horse for his company. Based very conveniently adjacent to the Savoy Hotel on the Strand, where many customers stay, it has built up a reputation that extends well beyond the sports field.

“We have sheiks and oligarchs, celebrities and international businessmen as customers,” says McCann. “But we are particularly strong among sportsmen, attracting top cricketers, rugby players, footballers, football club owners, managers, golfers, Formula 1 racing drivers and others.”

Happy spin-off from this business success is that tickets for sporting occasions come their way.

“I was at the Oval yesterday,” Katseph was happy to report, referring to the Friday of the recent Ashes series. “It was a great day – but my father and sister have been there all today (Saturday) and there has been no play, due to rain.” He grinned.

But such excursions haven’t distracted them from dedicated applicaton to building the business. It is a small team and though the showroom is in London, workrooms are in Leeds, and McCann and Katseph visit customers wherever required.

“We travel to the States, although not so much now,” says McCann. “We’re busier and busier here, and very few of our customers are not based in London or travel here. We also cover Abu Dhabi, Dubai and go to Moscow every other month.”

He started his career in the financial world some 15 years ago but soon left to move into the clothing industry, starting with a company set up by a major American brand. By the time the Americans decided to pull out of the UK, he had a grounding in tailoring and also experience with buying cloth, visiting top mills, and sourcing quality accessories.

“When I set up my own company, I had those contacts. Some customers came with me, and then we grew, mainly by word-of-mouth.”

Tailoring operations in Leeds are headed by a Savile Row trained tailor and McCann is still very much involved in overseeing production there, as well as working with customers. Katseph is more concerned with marketing, currently updating the website, and has his own customers for fittings. His background is in retail, with family roots in tailoring -  “I grew up surrounded by pattern cutting,” he says.

They see their style as classic with a contemporary twist, showing slimmer arms, a more waisted jacket line, trim shoulders. Most are single breasted but Katseph points to a resurgence of interest in db’s, among younger customers who haven’t tried them before, and with wider, peaked lapels developing.

Fabrics are from top English and Scottish mills as well as Italian, some Swiss, with Zegna and Loro Piana favoured. “Mohair is popular again,” Katseph reports, “giving a sharper look.”

“We used to have some suits made by Savile Row outworkers,” McCann explains, “but we don’t out-source now. But as we are getting busier, we will have to take on more staff.”

Future plans do not, however, take in a shop within the Row’s environs. “Obviously, a shop front looks nice in the Row or Bond Street,” he acknowledges. “But considering the overheads, it is not in the interest of our customers for us to go into such premises. Our appeal is that we do what we say we’ll do, and can give a good service at a reasonable price.”

They seem to be on a winning wicket.

From the top: cricketing star turned celebrity Darren Gough in a suit with contrast facing on the lapels and pocket band; Neil McCann; Stuart Broad, much in the news at the recent Ashes match, with Alex Katseph; former rugby player Kenny Logan; Gareth Southgate, former footballer; all suited by McCann, and a McCann Bespoke suit, left.