The year 2019 marks the 200th anniversary of Henry Poole & Co, opening its first bank account with Coutts. The relationship between bespoke tailor and banker was established in 1819 by founder James Poole. Today, both Poole’s and Coutts are internationally recognised bywords for excellence in their own particular spheres. To celebrate the 200-years, Coutts kindly invited Henry Poole & Co to exhibit a collection of archive and contemporary bespoke garments in Garden Court of the bank’s headquarters at No.440 Strand.
Henry Poole’s history as the first tailor of Savile Row, the creator of the Dinner Jacket and the recipient of over forty international Royal Warrants was reflected in the exhibition. The earliest piece of royal provenance from the archive collection was a King George III royal livery dated 1819: the same year that James Poole opened his account with Coutts. But Poole’s were keen to show how our past informs bespoke tailoring hence the decision to make twenty new bespoke pieces that reflect the requirements of our global clientele. Included in the exhibition are limited edition recent collaborations between Poole’s and international luxury brands, Canada Goose and Adidas that have brought an entirely new audience to Savile Row bespoke tailoring. Fellow great British brand and Royal Warrant holder, Land Rover, also exhibited with Henry Poole & Co.
Henry Poole & Co were also proud to debut their new limited edition house cloth. Co-designed by Poole’s and Coutts. To read more please click here.
Attendees included HRH Princess Anne, David Gandy, H.E. Mansoor Abulhoul, Lady Alice and Lady Eliza Manners, Craig McGinlay, Paul Sculfor and Perry Pearson.
The Coutts exhibition was also a crowning moment of a ten-year project to restore and catalogue Poole’s collection of historic customer ledgers dating back to 1846. Over 500 ladies and gentleman were discovered who made history recorded in the ledger pages. Including philanthropist Angela Burdett-Coutts whose order book was displayed at the exhibition. The opening of the new Archive Room at No.15 Savile Row formed the kernel of a new book – Henry Poole & Co: The First Tailor of Savile Row (Thames & Hudson) – written by James Sherwood who also curated the display at Coutts.
