The Breeze of Bespoke Elegance from London to Chennai

Savile Row has become synonymous with bespoke suits, bespoke tailoring, comfort etc. Where there is fish the birds will flock. This saying describes best, the emergence of Savile Street with its affluent residents and then the flocking birds – the providers of luxuries and comfort to these rich fish. 

One of the comforts personalised for the wealthy were the bespoke men’s wear. Master Tailors insist that Bespoke represent suits cut and made by hand. However, Etymology says, the word originates to mean “to exclaim”.

If you think the Sartorial elegance of Bespoke men’s wear is a privilege only meant for the afforders at Savile Row, then you are wrong. It is no longer a monopoly of the Londoners, coz the Savile Row Academy has designed each of their wards of bespoke tailoring into masters of craftsmanship. And now we have one of them right here in Chennai. Curious? 

Take a tour at Men's Wedding Wear | Business Suit for Men | Bespoke Tailoring (osmanabdulrazak.com)

Roots

Every city has its special nook and corner which represent a particular aspect of the city or particular trade or culture of a place. 

Savile Row of London  was named after the wife of the 3rd Earl of Burlington, Lady Dorothy Savile. Earlier known as Savile Street because it was part of the Burlington estate development, in the early 18th century. Today the street represents Ultra Bespoke Tailoring.

When birds with the same feather flock together, it was natural for Savile street to grow into Savile Row lined with influential residents initially like William Pitt junior a politician along with many military officers. Celebrities from the world of artists like R B Sheridan the Irish descent playwright and Phileas Fogg with the protagonist of Around the World in 80 days fame. 

Apart from these affluents, clubs like The Royal Geographical Society associated with the British ventures into the exploration of Asia, the South Pole etc. Also, the Savile Club or the Gentleman’s Club in 1968 stamped Savile Row with the seal of the most influential British affluents. Apple corps of the Beatles at 3 Savile Row opened the gates for artists like Mary Hopkin, Badfinger etc.

Where there are needs there are service providers. The need for exclusive comforts and luxuries of this elite of British society attracted the traders of commerce and comforts. Among these were the tailors who began creating exclusive men’s wear for the Savile affluents. These custom made suits and other men’s wear catering to individual comfort and taste, went on to be known as Bespoke men’s wear or Bespoke suits.

The credit for the emergence of the exclusive tuxedo alternatively known as dinner jacket is given to Henry Poole who set up his tailoring shop at 37 Savile Row. He followed the footsteps of his father who earlier worked(tailoring) at 4 Old Burlington Street. That's how tailoring made an entry into Savile street. 

The roots of Savile Row bespoke suits have naturally grown shoots to spread out in many countries and cities. Chennai is privileged to have nurtured one of them. To find out the legacy of bespoke suits, Italian suits and experience the excellence and elegance of bespoke tailoring, please visit Men's Wedding Wear | Business Suit for Men | Bespoke Tailoring (osmanabdulrazak.com)

Or walk into the store of Sartorial ambience and Savile Row hospitality

@ N°20 KNK, Chennai or Dial +(91) 97155 31333.

Shoots

Savile Row not only is located in Central London, Mayfair but today is the heart of high-end men’s wear, specifically for the ones who prefer the luxury of style and quality yet with discretion.

The style and traditional tailoring were taken to new heights with the establishment of the Nutters of Savile Row in 1969. The fame of bespoke tailoring continued till the 1900s and again received a breath of freshness with the ‘New Bespoke Movement’. The new movement was adorned with designers like Timothy Everest, Richard James etc.

With the increasing rentals and criticisms from new-age designers like Georgino Armani, the tailoring shops began declining. So, in 2004 the Savile Row Bespoke Association was founded to enhance and protect the heritage of bespoke tailoring. The members who assembled the association are Gieves & Hawkes, Dege & Skinner, Henry Poole and Anderson & Sheppard. 

Savile Row Bespoke

Today it is the hub throbbing with bespoke brand stores like Ozwald Boateng, Yuri and Yuri, JP Hackett etc.

Savile Row Academy

Among all the shoots of bespoke tailoring of Savile Row, was also Maurice Sedwell’s Ultra Bespoke. But the need to train the future masters of bespoke suits, tuxedos, peacoats, Italian suits etc, there was a need to open the gates to the new generation and groom them to the highest attainable standards.

The Director of Maurice Sedwell, Andrew Ramroop founded the Savile Row Academy(SRA) with the objective “ …….. to protect, enhance and develop the value of bespoke tailoring by training aspiring tailors to the highest attainable standards.” 

He joined the Ultra Bespoke tailors in the 1970s and was made to work in the backroom due to his race and colour. But, today with his persistence and consistency he is the Master Tailor of  SRA and believes that every aspiring youngster who wants to become a bespoke tailor should be given a chance and also see, that the standard of quality, elegance and style are never compromised. 

As he says – “We inspire the young people who aspire to become tailors”.

At the 80th anniversary of Maurice Sedwell Tailors on 19th June 2018, he announced the Golden Thimble Award, which is a full scholarship to the certification courses at Savile Row Academy. The certificate course begins every year in September.

Savile Row Academy on 19 Savile row, an offshoot of  Ultra Bespoke Tailors may be in London but the students trained to finesse have created ripples across the globe upholding the ‘Pinnacle of Sartorial Elegance’ of Henry Poole and the great arbiter of taste 3rd Earl of Burlington also a fashion leader who catalysed the bespoke tailoring tradition.

Savile Row clothing involves Savile row suits, Italian suits, with dedicated craftsmanship of cutting and perfectly fitting formal men’s wear.

Fortunately for us, one of the shoots of SRA has grown right here in our elite gardens of Chennai, India. The Savile Row Academy certified Master Tailor Osman Adbul Razak has taken up the mantle to bring the breeze of Savile Row style and elegance into your lives. 

Why should Londoners have all the fun? Right?

So men who aspire for the elite experience of Italian suits, dinner jackets etc cut and stitched just for you, glide into the bespoke store at N°20 KNK, Chennai  or visit Men's Wedding  Wear | Business Suit for Men | Bespoke Tailoring (osmanabdulrazak.com) and book your slot for one-to-one virtual consultations TODAY!