The future of Savile Row, with Anda Rowland: Video

This talk a couple of weeks ago with Anda Rowland was flagged as a discussion of the future of Savile Row. And while we did talk about that – including how to get more new tailors into the area – the most interesting area was probably how the Row has changed since Anda became involved.

She grew up seeing her father’s love of clothes (his valet lived in the flat downstairs) and his financing of a buyout of his tailor, Anderson & Sheppard. Anda became personally involved in 2004, when A&S had to move from its historic space on the corner of Savile Row and was trying to re-establish itself on Old Burlington Street.

It was then that her background in brand development started to change A&S, and created a format that many other tailors have copied since. We rarely talk about the recent history of Savile Row, so it was fascinating to learn about the ups and downs it has gone through.

I hope you enjoy the talk. It’s long, but it would be criminal to cut any of the different sections. Put it on in the background while you’re doing the washing up, or play it through your headphones on the way to work. It’s all interesting.

Thank you to Anda for taking part, to Mortimer House for hosting us, and as ever to the 40-odd readers who came along to take part.

For those that are interested, I’m wearing my double-breasted end-on-end suit from A&S, cut by John Hitchcock in 2011. It’s needed two alterations in that time, and body changes mean the shoulders are only 99% correct, but I love it.

Worn with a pale-blue shirt from D’Avino, printed silk tie from Drake’s, and dark-brown oxfords from Yohei Fukuda.

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