Style -- 1 day ago
London’s best tailors
The definitive guide to where to head if you’re after a bespoke suit in the capital
Words: Zak Maoui
The definitive guide to where to head if you’re after a bespoke suit in the capital
Words: Zak Maoui
With ready-to-wear having had an eclipsing effect on traditional tailoring methods in the age of consumer fast fashion, a bespoke suit is a sacred thing. That being said, a bespoke suit is a much better option than buying one off the rack, albeit a little pricey. Meticulous attention goes into making one — not just so that it fits your body, but that it lasts a lifetime. And for that, London is the best place in the world to find one.
The origins of the capital’s history with tailoring find their centrepoint on the famed Savile Row, which since the 18th century has been the mecca of craftsmanship and custom-made suiting. That said, although ‘The Row’ (as those who work and shop there refer to it) is still the go-to place for a custom-made suit, you’ll be able to find an expansive range of tailoring houses spread across the capital.
Founded in 1906, Anderson & Sheppard sits on Old Burlington Street and has a Clifford Street haberdashery. It found its extensive customer base after it began to offer a more relaxed alternative to the military dress of the early 20th century. Today it counts a long list of very famous men — Fred Astaire, Tom Ford and King Charles — among its biggest fans. But what the firmdoes so well is maintain the craft. “Sheppard has always placed training and apprenticeships at the heart of its work,” says director Anda Rowland, “ensuring that the firm’s hallmark, the ‘English Drape’, and its uncompromising quality continue for generations to come.”
32 Old Burlington St, London W1S 3AT and 17 Clifford St, London W1S 3RQ
With a ready-to-wear-only store on Savile Row, which it opened in 1992, and a bespoke and made-to-measure boutique on Mayfair’s Clifford Street, Richard James has proven staying power. Its clients include Elton John and David Beckham and it is best known for its quietly rebellious outlook on tailoring: it has a modern British cut including standard lapels, a slightly longer jacket and high armhole, and unique fabrics.“The style press first saw Richard James as being innovators, the first of the so-called New Establishment tailors on Savile Row, the 90s arrivals that shook things up a bit,” saysSean Dixon, managing director and co-founder. “So, to a certain degree, we were defined by Savile Row and we very quickly became a part of it. It’s our home.”
19 Clifford St, London W1S 3RH
Richard James
“Being the first tailors on Savile Row, it plays an important part in our identity. It has been our home for nearly 200 years”
A founding father of The Row, Henry Poole & Co. opened its doors in 1846. While it eschews fashion trends, it’s famed for inventing the dinner jacket, after the-then Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) requested a less formal dinner coat in 1865. “Being the first tailors on Savile Row, the street plays an important part of our identity,” says sales manager Joseph Bretagne.“It has been our home for nearly 200 years and we hope to continue that legacy.
“The future of Henry Poole rests in the continued celebration of our rich heritage and enduring traditions,” he continues. “As we approach our 220th anniversary in 2026, we remain committed to reaching this milestone as an independent, family-owned business now in its seventh generation.”
15 Savile Row, London W1S 3PJ
In 2009, the (now late) Joe Casely-Hayford launched his eponymous label alongside his son, Charlie, and wife Maria. In 2018, the brand opened its flagship store on Chiltern Street. Casely-Hayford is a modern brand with a strong allegiance to the traditions of tailoring, and has found fans including Drake, Cillian Murphy and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Handmade suits are the pinnacle of their bespoke tailoring service, combining precision, craftsmanship and contemporary creativity. “Casely-Hayford has always been built on dialogue on duality,” says its creative director Charlie Casely-Hayford. “Traditional tailoring combined with the cultural pulse of British culture. The future is about deepening that balance, using the atelier as a space where traditional cutting meets thoughtful design, and then extending our reach globally.”
3 Chiltern St, London W1U 7PB
A hidden gem on Savile Row, and one of the last independent bespoke tailors, Kent & Haste was the go-to tailor for the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It can also boast to have dressed the likes of Cary Grant, Mick Jagger and Bing Crosby. The firm, founded by John Kent and Terry Haste, is known for its exemplary quality and an exceptional selection of fabrics when it comes to bespoke suiting, as well as its range of house tweeds, including a tobacco-brown basketweave tweed and a Prince of Wales check.
7 Sackville St, London W1S 3DE
It was Edward Sexton who introduced a bold style to Savile Row in the 1970s. The “wizard with the scissors” who dressed Mick Jagger and The Beatles, Sexton brought new heat to suit-making. He introduced new shapes and focused on defined silhouettes: snug waists, big shoulders and razor-sharp lapels. While Sexton himself passed away in 2023, the brand lives on and still occupies a position on Savile Row, catering to the needs of men who want to express themselves in 70s-style suiting.
“We want to make knockout garments that clients will keep and treasure for years to come”
“Edward Sexton continues to give people a reason to enjoy wearing quality tailoring that looks and feels great,” says Dominic Sebag-Montefiore, creative director. “From musicians to the boardroom or just something for the weekend: Edward Sexton will continue to put a rebellious edge on classic Savile Row elegance.”
35 Savile Row, London W1S 3DQ
Founded in 2007 by Thom Whiddett and Luke Sweeney, who’d worked together at tailor Timothy Everest, Thom Sweeney has its foundations in bespoke tailoring. One of the more contemporary brands to offer a bespoke service, Sweeney’s house cut is a modern interpretation of a classic British silhouette, and the lapels are wider while construction is less stuffy — think minimal padding and softer shoulders. Sweeney’s clientele, including Tom Hardy, Daniel Craig and David Beckham, frequent the brand’s four-storey Old Burlington Street location, within which the bespoke service is housed. The goal for Thom Sweeney? “Make knockout garments that clients will keep and treasure for years to come,” the founders tell us.
24c Old Burlington St, London W1S 3AU
The brand started out 25 years ago on Lower Sloane Street – however, Oliver Brown have now expanded to have stores on Jermyn Street, in the City and in Chester. They’re renowned for both bespoke tailoring as well as their ready-to-wear collections. The brand also has close ties to horse racing, and has previously served as an official licensee for Royal Ascot.
“Oliver Brown has always been about contemporary tailoring, grounded in classic British tradition,” the brand’s founder Kristian Ferner Robson tells Gentleman’s Journal. “Our collections reflect the lives our customers lead – men who move easily between town and country, from formal occasions to more relaxed moments.”
75 Lower Sloane St, LondonSW1W 8DA
As well as being one of the oldest tailoring houses on Savile Row (it was founded in 1865), Dege & Skinner is one of the last family-owned businesses in the industry. It offers a bespoke tailoring and shirt-making service which has found favour among members of the Royal Family, and is renowned for its traditional military house style and uniforms, for which it holds a Royal Warrant. “We continue to invest heavily in training,” says managing director William Skinner. “As one of the founders of Savile Row Bespoke Association, we’re trusted to ensure the skills and expertise required to produce world-class bespoke garments, cut and made on Savile Row, are maintained and continue to thrive, as well as appealing to a new cohort of talented makers.”
10 Savile Row, London W1S 3PF
Situated in the banking heart of the City of London on Bow Lane, Jack Davison Bespoke is a relatively new kid on the pattern block. Founded in 2017 by friends Jack Stammers and Will Davison, the contemporary brand offers a slice of tradition in an historic environment tailored to the fit of custom-made suiting.
“We rely on methods that have been at the heart of British tailoring for generations,” says Davison. “Every pattern is drawn by hand, every fitting is personal, and each garment is made by craftspeople with years of experience. While we’re not afraid of new tools, the essence of what we do lies in skilled hands.”
43 Bow Ln, London EC4M 9DT
While today it is situated on Savile Row, Welsh & Jefferies opened in the early 20th century on Eton High Street. It was during the First World War that the company built a reputation as a military tailor. While it made uniforms for the Rifle Brigade and the Coldstream Guards, it’s likely most famous for producing Winston Churchill’s uniform in his military years.
James Cottrell, who is head cutter at the brand, started his career in Kilgour at the age of 16, before working at Tommy Nutter’s workshop for five years and then 18 years at Henry Poole. Each bespoke suit is designed and assembled at the Savile Row store and it goes through a precise process to ensure diversity and uniqueness.
Basement, 12 Savile Row, London W1S 3PQ
Gieves (founded 1785) & Hawkes (founded 1771) have been located at their prime spot at 1 Savile Row since 1913. Holding a Royal Warrant for every British monarch since King George III, the firm has made a commitment to protecting British craft, and its collections and fabrics are mainly derived from the British Isles. The brand has a rich history of militarywear, but its bespoke tailoring reflects this: high armholes and structured roped shoulders. The store on Savile Row embodies the brand’s values, and a large, refurbished space now houses its ready-to-wear, bespoke services and historical creations.
1 Savile Row, London W1S 3JR
While Paul Smith is best known for its ready-to-wear offering, the British brand, which is still headed up by the namesake founder, has a bespoke service that is built on the customs of the finest and oldest tailors. It is one that has won over fans such as Matt Smith, Daniel Craig and Bill Nighy, each of them dazzling in one-of-one creations.
“The future of bespoke tailoring at Paul Smith is rooted in its heritage,” says Matthew Gonzalez, the firm’s head cutter. “At its heart, a bespoke suit is the product of craftsmanship honed and refined over generations. We are committed to carrying that tradition forward, staying true to the path pioneered by the great tailoring houses of Savile Row.”
9 Albemarle St, London W1S 4BL
Founded on Bond Street in 1849, Huntsman relocated to Savile Row in 1919 and today it is one of the most revered tailors on the street — and not just because it acts as the backdrop of Matthew Vaughn’s style-orientated Kingsman franchise. The elegant ‘Huntsman cut’, characterised by strong shoulders and a perfectly-poised single button fastening, is what has men from all over the world flocking to the Savile Row store.
“Our future is built on a foundation of producing the finest garments in the world, anchored by the values and craftsmanship that have defined us since 1849,” says Taj Phull, Huntsman managing director. “Every Huntsman garment begins with the same principles that guided our cutters and tailors for over 175 years and we continue to train apprentices in-house.”
11 Savile Row, London W1S 3PS
Richard Anderson and Brian Lishak came together in 2001 to launch their brand at 13 Savile Row, where it has remained.
With both having honed their craft at Huntsman, their own brand’s one-button house style is rooted in the traditional hacking coat, derived from the 19th-century Thornton system of cutting.
“The bespoke tailoring community is a close-knit band of dedicated perfectionists whose clients are connoisseurs of quality and style,” explains Lishak. “We must be in the community and drive its continuance. Richard and I are committed and love our work and our customers. At 86 years old, and with 70 years on Savile Row, I continue my endeavours, because as long as I can continue to serve our fraternity I shall continue to do so.”
13 Savile Row, London W1S 3PH
Despite not being British, P. Johnson is making a lot of noise on the tailoring scene in London. Established in Sydney in 2009, the firm has showrooms around the world offering a bespoke service. P. Johnson’s custom tailoring draws upon traditional Italian practices honed at the brand’s Sartoria Carrara atelier in Tuscany. Each suit is constructed by traditional means to ensure a natural drape.
“We understand the importance of the finer manual aspects of construction where genuinely needed, and its relationship to the integrity and longevity of the garment,” explain Patrick Johnson and Thomas Riley, founder and director, respectively, of P. Johnson. “Craft also comes down to how the client is dealt with, their feelings, their knowledge and how they ought to be treasured as an individual as much as the garment itself.”
Lower Ground Floor, 31 Percy St, London W1T 2DD
Maurice Sedwell is a British clothing company established by its namesake founder in 1938. It was first located on Fleet Street, but when Trinidad-born Andrew Ramroop OBE, who cut his teeth at Huntsman, took over ownership, it moved to Savile Row. Best known for its softer tailoring, it was the go-to suit brand for the late Princess Diana. “Savile Row is reputed to be the birthplace of the gentleman’s sartorial image, presentation and individual expression,” Ramroop told Gentleman’s Journal.
“Since winning the Merchant Tailors competition in 1956, it was a natural progression from Fleet Street to the West End.”
First Floor, 9-10 Savile Row, London W1S 3PF
For more than 200 years, Norton & Sons has been hand-cutting and sewing out of its outpost at number 16 Savile Row. A stalwart brand of The Row, it is hell-bent on preserving traditional tailoring by keeping it alive in the place where it was born. Every bespoke garment is crafted in-house at number 16 Savile Row — from the initial pattern drawn by the head cutter, through coat-making and the final finishing.
“Looking ahead, Norton & Sons continues to balance heritage and innovation — championing the art of British tailoring while exploring new ways to bring our craft to a wider audience,” says owner James Sleater.
16 Savile Row, London W1S 3PL
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