This March, Aristocracy London expands its kingdom

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Royal blue: it’s the king of all colours. For centuries, deep blue dyes have been associated with status and ceremony — medieval monarchs often holding court in capes and cloaks in the shade. It’s regal, it’s majestic and — fittingly — it’s the colour that defines Aristocracy London, a nobly named, modern-minded fashion house based in South Kensington. The strong blue hue can be found throughout the atelier — from the curtains of its fitting suites to the finely flocked hangers upon which you’ll carry out your suit.

It’s a deliberate choice, and one made by brand founder Lazaros Tyrekidis, who — after spending his childhood in a small northern Greek village — went on to study in Greece and the UK before eventually settling in London. After many years working in corporate roles in digital marketing in the British capital, he founded Aristocracy in 2019. A year later, the first showroom opened in Belgravia, and the flagship South Kensington premises followed soon after, in 2023.

The brand’s dedicated made-to-measure atelier — just a short walk from the South Kensington showroom — evokes the intimate atmosphere of nearby private members’ clubs. Situated in a listed Victorian building, it has been designed with an Art Deco touch, and won Gold at last year’s London Design Awards.

With such successes, it’s little wonder that Aristocracy is expanding. Later this month, the fashion house will open its first showroom outside of London, in Manchester. In another listed building, the brand will set up shop across four floors on the northern city’s prestigious King Street — an apt address for such sovereign styles.

Yet, before we get to the suiting itself, it’s important to touch on the brand’s wider values. Because, while the Aristocracy order book may be filling up nicely, philanthropy is also woven into the seams of the brand. Tyrekidis, for instance, runs a scholarship to support young students from his family’s Greek village. He also works closely with Suited & Booted, the charity that supplies vulnerable or low-income men with interview attire.

Even on the textile side, this blue-hued brand has a green edge, engaging proactively with the latest eco-developments. Last January, Aristocracy launched its Dapper Beaver collection, an eco-chic range of suits that incorporate recyclable fabrics, vegan leather, plantable hangtags, corozo buttons and even hangers made from rice husks. As with the majority of the brand’s suiting, the suits are three-piece, and each design is evocatively named: think ‘Hazel’, ‘Wildflower’ or ‘Elm’.

This naming convention carries over into Aristocracy’s other collections. Within the fashion house's ‘Prêt à Porter’ ready-to-wear line, the theme is royalty. There’s the ‘Balmoral’, a three-piece tailcoat suit with a tonal floral pattern and gold piping. The ‘Windsor’, though slightly shorter in the tail, is equally distinguished. And the ‘Blenheim’ loafers — indeed, like the palace — are patent and tasseled, available in black, blue or a rich burgundy red.

All of the suits are limited edition, made as they are with exclusive fabrics — and all designs are inspired by royal or military sartorial tradition. But there are also formalwear touches borrowed from other cultures, such as traditional Mandarin collars or the curved, cutaway fronts of Nehru suits.

The ‘Prêt à Porter’ collection can be purchased online or in the showroom, which operates by appointment — one hour with a dedicated stylist to find your perfect fit. But there’s also a made-to-measure service, also by appointment. This process begins with a discussion, followed by up to six weeks of designing and hand-crafting. Whether pure wool, cashmere or silk blends — also linens, tweeds, alpaca wool or mohair — there’s a princely range of options to choose from.

And that’s before we even come to accessories, because Aristocracy also carries shoes, shirts, ties, cufflinks and pocket watches — everything you may need to complete your outfit.

Speaking of final touches, your finished suit is presented in a custom box secured with a golden wax seal. Like Royal Blue, such seals have always been a sign of noble lineage, with the practice dating back to the courts of early medieval monarchs. Whenever these crests were pressed, it meant they were protecting something of great value and prestige. With Aristocracy London, that tradition continues.