March 28, 2005
savile row pic
Here’s a picture of Savile Row I found on Google.
This is taken from the North end, looking South. This is pretty much it. You can see it end there at the bottom, at Vigo Street.
On the right you can see the corner stone archway of Anderson & Sheppard, Thomas’ old employer. Last month they moved their store one block West, on to Cork Street.
I think the demolition mob’s already moved in this week sometime and we’ll have new, shiny offfice buildings in no time. Progress, there’s no stopping it etc.
Funnily enough, this picture seems to have been taken right on the doorstp of Number 20, Welsh & Jeffries, where Thomas has his offices. It’s a FANTASTIC little tailors shop. Their lease runs out as well in about a year, so doubtless we’ll have EVEN MORE fun, shiny new offices to gawk at.
In Central London, a lot of the land isn’t actually for sale, you just buy 100-year leases off the Duke of Westminster, or whatever. Anderson & Sheppard opened in 1906; I’m guessing their 100-year lease just ran out, hence the bulldozers moving in.
It always surprises me just how tiny Savile Row is, when you consider all the stories that come out of it.
Though it’s sad Anderson’s is being moved of the Row, it’s actually good for Thomas’ business. If Anderson’s can move off the Row and still be considered “Savile Row”, then hell yeah, so can Thomas.
Interesting point wrt “Saville Row”.
Will Anderson’s really be able to put Saville Row on their labels if they are no longer located on Saville Row?
Personally, I don’t think we should underestimate the power of having Saville Row on the label of your suit as it connects you directly to the whole history of the Row and the people who have worn their suits. It means a hell of a lot. It also means Quality.
And if Anderson’s can continue to put Saville Row on their labels when they are not located there, what is to eventually stop anyone putting it on their labels even if they have no connection. And no Quality.
Could the tailors on the row club together and make it such that “Saville Row” can only be used by members of that club or is this already so?
What will “Saville Row” mean if, heaven forbid, none of the tailors are located there?
:bM
PS: I have a suit being cut by Thomas as we speak. I wouldn’t have done if I had not seen the blog!
Well, Big Malc, it’s the million dollar question… how far can the Savile Row “brand” be taken off the Row… how far wil it stretch?
The best Anderson & Sheppard sewer on the planet doesn’t live in London. Lives in Cumbria, about 3 miles from Thomas. Every week A&S courier him up another bunchload of suits for him to work on; and he couriers them back a week later.
Thomas uses him too… I imagine he’s cutting yours as well (Thanks for the business, by the way, glad you like English Cut).
I think Tom’s model– one foot on the Row, one foot off, has a big future for a lot of people. There are a lot of tailors who would much rather live in Cumbria than London.