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News, Suits

David Gandy talking at the Concours on Savile Row last month

David Gandy, the entrepreneur known to many as Mr Savile Row, revealed a little secret to the crowds teeming up and down during the recent Concours event there. He was asked: So David, if you had to pick just one suit, what would be your favourite?

For a man known for his elegance and style, this is no easy question, especially as he has worked with so many up and down the Row over the years.

But, after a sharp intake of breath, David made his decision. “If I had to choose one – and I do just love the suit – it’s the Henry Poole evening suit,” he said. “They invented it and I have one. It’s midnight blue. This history behind that and to tell people when they ask me about it is quite remarkable. I absolutely love that. That’s probably the one that stands out. I don’t get to wear it very often but when I do it’s very special.”

On Savile Row itself, David revealed: “It’s my favourite street in London. I will mix high street with Savile Row and that’s the beauty of it. You’re buying for longevity. People talk about sustainability these days and some of my suits from Savile Row I’ve had for 15 years and I still wear them. That’s the pinnacle of sustainability. Yes, you may have to have your suits adjusted but this clothing is lasting between 15 to 20 years and they can be passed down (to the next generation) as well.”

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David Gandy talking at the Concours on

News, Savile Row Concours

The third edition of the Concours on Savile Row returned to Mayfair this month. Not even the opening day’s poor weather could dampen the spirits of Londoners and visitors from around the world, as they made their way along the event’s special red carpet display. The Concours featured more than 50 collector cars and motorcycles. Jenny Casebourne, head of portfolio at The Pollen Estate, said: “Savile Row is London’s iconic destination renowned for tailoring, craftsmanship and style. We are excited to see the new collaborations and the synergies with the car manufacturers come to life. Concours on Savile Row is a great addition to London’s events calendar, and showcases the very best of British tailoring to a global audience.”

And after all that, of course, we had a party….

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The third edition of the Concours on

News

The chief executive of the trade lobby group for Britain’s luxury brands had told MPs that Savile Row suits should have the same protected status as Melton Mowbray pork pies and Cornish clotted cream. Helen Brocklebank, chief executive at Walpole’s, said: “If we don’t put protections around these incredible regional clusters of highly skilled craftsmen that are unique to our country, then we could risk losing those skills over the next 10 or 15 years. This is a massive opportunity. Why are we making ourselves less competitive?”

Ms Brocklebank made the comments as Walpole published a report into the economic value of the UK’s luxury sector, which found the industry was now contributing £81bn a year, a 69 per cent increase over the past five years.

Essentially, MPs are being urged to widen the Protected Geographical Indication regime to include Savile Row. At the moment, the regime grants certain products from a specific place legal protection from misuse and imitation and Walpole is urging the government to expand the category to cover hand-made crafts.

Ms Brocklebank added that it was a “really easy” change to make that would move the dial for these “unique national assets”. She said: “If the scheme was extended to include non-produce-based craft products – like Savile Row tailoring – this would help protect the skills these industries rely on and, in turn, the communities they support.”

There are fears that British craftspeople are being put at a disadvantage compared with those in the EU, which has granted protected status to certain non-food and drink products. This includes Limoges porcelain in France, which was given the status in 2017.

 

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The chief executive of the trade lobby

Launches, News, Tailor News

Richard James has opened a new bespoke £2 million store on Clifford Street, just off Savile Row, the third outlet in the company’s fashion armoury and its co-founder and managing director Sean Dixon couldn’t be more excited. “We started the business back in 1992 with what was the smallest store on the street, and now we have got some 2,500 sq ft here, so we have grown,” says Sean. “A lot of our customers have been with us since we opened that first store and many of them have gradually moved from ready-to-wear tailoring to made-to-measure and bespoke, so there is a certain symmetry to the way we are set up here.”

The new store – “a cathedral to tailoring,” is how the company describes it – is spread over three storeys with Sean adding: “There’s a lot of rich colour and that’s testimony to Richard himself, who I co-founded the business with in 1992. We really wouldn’t be where we are now without him. He retired from the business a few years ago, but he remains with us in spirit and style as well as name. The walls are in rich burgundy, orange, blue and yellow, and the patterns on the curtains and carpets neatly reference our in-house print design, which is something else that we have a reputation for.”

The work was led by international interior designer David Thomas who said: “I felt strongly about respecting the building’s exterior architecture – the only all-white building on Clifford Street – and bringing back the interior to its former glory. Restoring the original details, whilst adding elements of modernity.”

Head up to the first floor and you’ll find a stylish cocktail bar, complete with comfortable seats and classy artwork. Sean explains: “We wanted to create a space that our customers could use and feel at home in, so a bar seemed like a good idea. Our shops have always been convivial, sociable places that have forged friendships. I remember when Oasis, Elton John and Lord Brown all came in at the same time, and they all got on famously. An unlikely gathering, perhaps, but the thing is that we have always appealed to people with a certain attitude, rather than any particular demographic. I think our customers are the most adventurous on Savile Row.”

And, according to Sean, the novelty of loungewear which took off during the Covid-19 lockdowns has worn off, with more people now choosing to dress more formally. “The world of tailoring, and the suit, is actually having a bit of a resurgence,” he said. “But the most important thing is that people feel welcome when they enter the store. Buying a suit can feel intimidating, so we wanted to create a place where people can spend time and be helped through the process, whether they are buying ready to wear or having a suit made. It should be a very pleasant experience.”

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Richard James has opened a new bespoke

News, Savile Row Concours

Following last year’s highly successful outing for Concours on Savile Row, the third edition will take place in London’s famous tailoring district on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 May. The unique event drew more than 12,000 visitors in 2023, with over 40 cars and motorcycles on display from manufacturers and private collectors.

The line-up was eclectic and included the debut of two Huntsman-designed Bentleys, a Jaguar E-type art car, a JPS Lotus F1 machine and a number of highly significant cars from private collectors. Savile Row is the world’s ultimate destination for bespoke tailoring and craftsmanship, with an ever-expanding selection of made-to-measure, ready-to-wear and complimentary accessories. The event – which is free to the public – celebrates the long history that automotive manufacturers and tailors share, with many partnerships and collaborations entered into over the two days. Savile Row is closed to traffic during event, thanks to the cooperation of Westminster City Council. Visitors are able to browse the spectacular cars and the fascinating tailors’ displays, as well as enjoy the talks and live music on the central stage. People will see some of the greatest cars ever made, matched with specific tailors to continue a long tradition of car manufacturers pairing with the craftsmanship of Savile Row. Many important names in the car design and tailoring worlds will be speaking on the main stage, and there will be live music too. Refreshments will be available from The Service café as well as several pop-up venues.

Jenny Casebourne, Head of Portfolio at The Pollen Estate, said: “The Pollen Estate is delighted to host Concours on Savile Row for a third year in 2024. Savile Row is London’s iconic destination renowned for tailoring, craftsmanship and style, and we are excited to see the new collaborations and the synergies with the car manufacturers come to life. The event is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to go inside the tailoring houses and meet the individual tailors as well as experience the expertise and craft behind a bespoke suit first-hand. Concours on Savile Row is a great addition to London’s events calendar and will showcase the very best of British tailoring to a global audience.”

Looking forward to 2024, Geoff Love, UK Managing Director of organiser Hothouse Media, said: “The second edition of this unique event established Concours on Savile Row as a key date in both the automotive and bespoke-tailoring calendar. The response to the event from manufacturers, sponsors and tailors has been tremendous, and 2024 will see further innovation as we continue to focus on the opportunities presented by such a special event.”

concoursonsavilerow.com

 

 

 

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Following last year’s highly successful outing for