Savile Row: the golden mile of tailoring

Dec 30 2009

There is nothing quite as exquisite as the feel of a fine suit; one that fits so perfectly that we hardly know we are wearing it. When in search of men’s suits, there is only one place to go: Savile Row.

Savile Row is a street in Mayfair, central London which is often referred to as the ‘golden mile of tailoring’, where customers have included Winston Churchill, Lord Nelson, and Napoleon III. The street itself was built between 1731 and 1735 as part of the development of the Burlington Estate and is named after Lady Dorothy Savile, wife of the 3rd Earl of Burlington. Initially, the street was occupied by military officers and their wives. William Pitt the Younger and Irish-born playwright and MP Richard Brinsley Sheridan, were early residents.

During the 1800s, the gentry became concerned with neat dress and Beau Brummell epitomised the well-dressed man. He was a captain in the Tenth Light Dragoons who made his way into the Prince Regent’s inner circle where he made an impression with his elegant understated manner of dress and clever remarks. His fastidious attention to cleaning his teeth, shaving, and bathing daily were also noted and became popular habits. Beau Brummell patronised the tailors congregated on the Burlington Estate, notably around Cork Street, and by 1803 some were occupying premises in Savile Row. The world’s best tailors flocked to Savile Row and as such it became the spiritual home of men’s suits and men’s formal shirts.

Savile Row has been home to the world’s best tailors for over 200 years. One of the most prestigious tailors is the Savile Row Company which is based in the heart of Savile Row and has been making finely tailored men’s suits and men’s formal shirts since 1938. A family company of medium size, the Savile Row Company now designs and produces an extensive range of clothing and accessories for men and women - all crafted to the highest standard of quality and workmanship. The Savile Row Company brand is now sold in over 30 countries worldwide. The company initially manufactured and provided quality clothes to many famous London department stores. Sadly, the factory was completely destroyed during the Blitz. Yet, only a year after the War ended, the business was re-started with a new focus on men’s suits and men’s formal shirts.

When they opened their flagship store at 40 Savile Row, they decided to shift the emphasis of the business to selling directly to the public. Since then they have built up an incredibly successful ‘direct’ business. Their mail order and online operations go from strength to strength and the ‘Made to Measure’ service offered at 40 Savile Row has never been more popular. By supplying direct from their own warehouse, they are able to minimise costs and pass these savings onto their customers. The result is that they are able to sell at prices much lower than one would associate with such superb tailoring. Men fly in from all over the world to experience Savile Row’s tailors. For a glimpse of the golden mile of tailoring on your computer, visit www.savilerowco.com for a quintessential tailoring experience.