London’s Menswear Scene
As you wonder down the wonderful Savile Row you are reminded of the heritage of Britain. Many of it’s building remain from the Georgian and regency eras yet mixed in with the continuous developments that are ongoing across Mayfair. At the start of the row you have Ede & Ravenscroft and Gieves and Hawkes, two brands who until the passing of the late HRH The Duke of Edinburgh were 2 of only 14 brands to hold all 3 royal warrants. Gieves founded over 250 years ago is present in the prestigious No 1 Savile Row.
Connecting the Row to Piccadilly is the fabulous Burlington Arcade, sadly now with more commercial brands than the older independents that occupied the arcade for decades. Along the other side of the road sites Piccadilly Arcade and the menswear arcade to connect through to the wonderful Jermyn Street where you will find the finest shirt makers, shoes and fragrances anywhere in the world.
In 1886, the company earned its first royal warrant as Leather Breeches Maker to HRH the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII). The Huntsman building was used as the facade for the Kingsman shop for Matthew Vaughn's blockbuster movie franchise Kingsman, and continues to display a Kingsman plaque by the door.
Founded in 1849, Huntsman is a Savile Row tailor, producing traditional bespoke tailoring for gentlemen and ladies. Huntsman has been granted several royal warrants bestowed by British and European monarchs, including The Prince of Wales, (later Edward VII) and Queen Victoria. Huntsman is also one of the founders of the Savile Row Bespoke Association - the trade body responsible for protecting and promoting the working practices of Savile Row. Huntsman was the inspiration for Matthew Vaughn's Kingsman trilogy. From his own fitting at 11 Savile Row he imagined an organising of sartorially superior spies, but that's only the start of the story...
Ede & Ravenscroft are the oldest tailors in London, established in 1689. They have two London premises, in Chancery Lane and Burlington Gardens, very close to the famous Savile Row. They make, sell and hire out legal gowns and wigs, clerical dress, civic and municipal robes, academic dress and other ceremonial and formal dress, and have shops in Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh.
The main (and historic) outlet and offices are at 93 Chancery Lane which, due to its proximity to the Inns of Court and the country's main civil and criminal law courts, is also the company's main outlet for legal dress.
Since the firm’s inception in 1906, Anderson & Sheppard’s mission has been simple, focused and immutable: to be the tailor of choice for men who wish to dress in comfortable, understated elegance. For well over 100 years, we’ve stayed true to that mission, crafting bespoke clothing for some of the world’s most notable men in the arts, government and business. Should you decide to honour us with your business, be assured that you would receive the selfsame quality and attention they did. The following sections will introduce you to some of today’s Anderson & Sheppard team members, many of whom would be involved in creating your bespoke garments.
Anderson & Sheppard has a team of over 60 loyal staff and expert tailors, each committed to his or her chosen field of front of house, cutting or tailoring. The exacting particulars of our house style and practices mean that we tend to train and grow our team from within, ensuring a continuity of tradition, precision and pride in our craft—principles to which we have been steadfastly committed since we first opened our doors.
Established in 1865, J. Dege & Sons (trading as Dege & Skinner) is one of two family-owned bespoke tailoring houses still remaining on London’s historic Savile Row. Jacob Dege was a successful German journeyman tailor, who came to England in 1855 to seek his fortune. Attempts to reform the German taxation system and impose censorship had driven many of its citizens away. And, a number of those who left Germany chose to pursue a new life in England.
Ten years later, Jacob established his own business at 13 Conduit Street, London, W.1.
Jacob had a large family, business flourished and his three boys all went to Merchant Taylors’ School in Charterhouse Square. The elder two entered the business, but there was no place for Arthur in his family firm. So the youngest son, a good school friend of William George Skinner (Bill), whose family were tailors in Jermyn Street, decided to start their own business and called it ‘Arthur Dege & Skinner’.
And so from 1900, Arthur Dege & Skinner was trading from Grafton Street in central London.
William Skinner is the fifth generation of his family to join the company and has been Managing Director since 2001. He aims to enhance Dege & Skinner’s exemplary record of quality and service, and its apprenticeship scheme, while building on the work of previous generations to face the challenges of the future with optimism.
William is also a past Appeal Chairman of the Master Tailors’ Benevolent Association. And until the end of 2020, he was Chairman of the Savile Row Bespoke Association. He is a Council Member of the Bespoke Tailors’ Benevolent Association and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors.
“Maybe a suit can’t change the world, but the women who wear them can.”
The deck is a contemporary made-to-measure tailoring brand, by women, for women. We’re also proud to be the first female-only tailor with a shopfront in the history of Savile Row. We make elegant, contemporary and timeless suits and separates to compliment all elements of a woman’s life – from boyfriend blazers to wear while racing around town or dropping the kids at school, to tuxedos or velvet power suits for Black Tie and red carpet events. Founded by Daisy Knatchbull in 2019, The Deck offers stylish, successful women an alternative to mainstream brands and fast fashion.
Meyer & Mortimer has one of the oldest pedigrees among the Savile Row fraternity. The modern company traces its heritage back to the 1790s when Jonathan Meyer, a tailor from Austria, established a tailoring and military outfitting business at 36 Conduit Street, at the north end of Savile Row. Around the same time in Edinburgh, the Mortimer family was specialising in military outfitting, supplying officers with swords, ceremonial dirks and firearms. Many Mortimer weapons remain in existence.
The oldest surviving company ledger lists customers and their tailoring orders from 1809-1824. Included in its beautiful hand-written copy plate script are entries for The Prince Regent, later King George IV, and leading aristocrats and military commanders of the day. Another precious and unique handwritten notebook lists the tailoring orders taken by Meyer’s firm as he followed the British forces in the Waterloo campaign. Then, as now, good tailors travelled to serve their customers.
Davies & Son has the longest history of any independent Tailor on Savile Row.
Established in 1803, we have since acquired the tailoring houses of Johns and Pegg, Fallan and Harvey, James and James, Wells of Mayfair to name but a few. Each one adding to our own knowledge, experience and history. In over two centuries of bespoke tailoring we have made garments for four Kings, seven Crown Princes, two US presidents and innumerable Knights of the Realm. Our Royal Warrant is held by Johns & Pegg by Appointment to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh as Military Tailors.
Now one of only three purely bespoke houses on Savile Row and the only bespoke Tailor on the west side of the Row- Davies & Son is a piece of refined British history you'll want to be a part of. We will both advise and guide you through the entire process of bespoke tailoring; helping you to decide on cloth, style and personalised features. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail, quality and service.
Savile Row is a deceptively quiet and discreet London street, running parallel to Bond Street. The street is globally renowned not only as the heart of English bespoke tailoring but also as the number one destination for a hand-made suit anywhere in the world. We’re proud to say that Savile Row’s reputation can be traced back to the current owners’ ancestor, James Poole. In 1806 James Poole, a modest lad from Shropshire, opened a linen drapers shop near Brunswick Square and by the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 he was making military tunics. The business first opened in Brunswick Square, in 1806, originally specializing in military tailoring, with particular merit at the time of the Battle of Waterloo. The business moved to Savile Row in 1846, following the death of founder James Poole. Henry Poole ran the business until his death in 1876, and he was succeeded by cousin Samuel Cundey, whose legacy continued for five generations to the present-day owners Angus Cundey and Angus's son Simon.
The company still holds many royal warrants of appointment and services the Lord Chamberlain's office with court dress. Their livery department even created uniforms for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Henry Poole & Co is also known for the creation of the dinner suit. In 2006, the company celebrated their bicentennial with a refurbishment of their premises. 2007 saw a re-issue of a suiting material made famous by Winston Churchill, a Henry Poole customer who ordered his first suit 100 years prior.
Gieves and Hawkes is one of the oldest bespoke tailoring companies in the world. The business was originally based on catering to the needs of the British Army and the Royal Navy, and hence by association the British royal family. The company holds a number of Royal Warrants, and it provides men's ready-to-wear as well as bespoke and military tailoring.
Founded in 1885, Turnbull & Asser is the definitive British shirtmaker. Made in our English workrooms and crafted by industry artisans, each garment is a signature of our sartorial elegance. These were qualities recognised by HM King Charles III when he bestowed his first Royal Warrant in 1980. Available in ready-to-wear, made-to-measure and bespoke options, our garments are made for individuals that appreciate superior quality and craftsmanship.
Emma Willis trained at The Slade School of Art before starting her business in 1989, designing and making men's luxury shirts, ties, boxer shorts and nightwear all made in England.
In 1999 she opened her elegant and intimate shop in Jermyn Street, on the corner of St James's and in 2010 her English shirt making factory opened in the centre of Historic Gloucester. Her philosophy is to adhere to traditional English shirt making techniques, using luxurious Swiss and West Indian Sea Island Cottons, and employ local, skilled craftspeople.
In 2008, in response to the numerous young, severely injured service men and women returning from Afghanistan Emma founded Style for Soldiers, a registered charity supporting those injured with morale lifting fine clothing and reunion parties. She visited the military rehabilitation hospital for 10 years, measuring the patients for bespoke shirts and walking sticks. The charity now also supports the partners and children of those injured with family reunion days out. His Majesty, King Charles III, is a supporter of the charity and has attended their reunions.
In 1865 Miss Elisabeth New and Mr Samuel Lingwood founded the business which still bears their names, New & Lingwood. They subsequently married and laid the foundation on which the business still prides itself, unsurpassed quality of merchandise and truly personal service.
In 1922 New & Lingwood opened a shop in Jermyn Street and although these premises were destroyed in the blitz during the Second World War, we re-established our presence in the street shortly after the war, this time at number 53, on the corner of the Piccadilly Arcade. It is fair to say that today New & Lingwood is unique in London in being the most traditional of the small number of gentleman's outfitters supplying bespoke and ready-made shirts, hosiery and shoes of the highest quality.
The company was formed in Eton to serve the scholars of Eton College, the most famous of English Public Schools, and soon gained official status as outfitters to the College, a great honour for the firm. For over 147 years New & Lingwood has served many thousands of Etonians, in many instances five or more generations of the same family, on the same site it has occupied since its foundation. This is a consequence of the high standards of quality and service that New & Lingwood have maintained.
In 1972 the old and famous shoe and boot-making firm Poulsen Skone joined the Company extending the classic range of shoes.
One of only a small handful of independent formalwear retailers, Favourbrook’s unique offering of sartorial elegance and sophistication for men and women is rooted in tradition but by no means constrained by it. We believe that wearing the correct attire for a special occasion needn’t mean losing one’s individual style and personality.
Our collections react to the needs of our customers rather than trends. Established on London’s Jermyn Street in 1990, Favourbook continues to provide occasionwear that customers will treasure.
Founded in 1829, Tricker’s is proudly the oldest established shoemaker in Britain. Still owned by the founding family, our commitment to making shoes and boots of outstanding quality remains wholeheartedly consistent.
Tricker’s footwear is made entirely from start to finish at our Northampton factory and, whilst manufacturing processes have changed over time, our craftspeople continue to follow the traditional techniques developed over decades.
Cut by hand from the world’s finest leathers, each pair of Edward Greens is made in our Northampton workshop according to the same principles that have guided us for over a century. Crafted and honed with unerring attention to detail our shoes embody the timeless elegance of quintessentially English style.
Loved by the likes of Sir Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Lady Diana, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth and Tom Cruise, the Harvie and Hudson Shirt has for 70 years, been the embodiment of ultimate luxury. With its 2-fold, 100 Egyptian Cotton, mother of pearl buttons, wide plackets and semi-cutaway Kent Collars, the Harvie and Hudson Shirt has been honed into a Jermyn Street staple, known and loved by many.
An ambitious dream was what sparked the start of their joint venture. While working at ‘Jermyn Street Shirtmaker’ at 23 Jermyn Street (now home to La Martina) George, who was the Head Cutter and Thomas, who managed the store had an aspiring thought that they could start their own Shirt-making Business. The idea bloomed with promise and a plan soon was set in motion but temporarily put on hold during the Second World War, when Thomas was drafted to Burma and George worked as a cutter for Uniforms during the War.
Roderick Charles combines the very best of traditional English tailoring with contemporary fitting and the finest British-milled cloth to deliver timeless quality.
Our seasonal collections offer something for every occasion, from sleek tailored silhouettes, to double breasted suits, formal dinner jackets and countryside attire. The ready-to-wear offering incorporates everything from lightweight linens to robust tweeds, and luxury cashmere. While our bespoke service delivers something special for those with a more individual sense of style.