Savile Row is perhaps more renowned for its centuries-old traditions than for its digital wizardry. At Henry Poole & Co, we are justifiably proud of those traditions, which put our customers right at their heart. Our relationship with our valued, loyal customers is the cornerstone of everything we do. So, when lockdown meant our customers were prevented from entering Number 15, we decided it was time to conquer technology and bring Number 15 to you. Instead of being overwhelmed by the challenges of Covid-19, we’ve seen it as an opportunity to try new things – from making masks to match your suits to improving our digital presence. And improve it we have.
We’re now delighted to offer you our first ever virtual 360 degree tour of our premises, which also allows our overseas customers, who might otherwise only engage with us during our trunk shows, a chance to browse around. Our tour allows you to look around the shop and then stop, zoom in and instantly call up the details of absolutely anything you’d like to know more about, from cufflinks and ties to ceremonial robes and dress, like the uniform for the Burlington Arcade beadles. It goes without saying, you can buy whatever you like the look of – just peruse and shop.
Click on the dinner suit and you’ll learn (if you didn’t already know) that Henry Poole & Co was responsible for the first ever tuxedo when it designed a coat without tails for ‘Bertie’ Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII, to wear at informal dinners at Sandringham. You can take a closer look at the book written about Henry Poole that lies on the table in our comfortable waiting area or at our warrants, which hang above the reception desk. And while you’re there, you can even stop and find out more about our staff and the cutters and tailors who’d usually be there to help you.
For anyone interested in the history of Savile Row’s oldest tailor, there are some fascinating vignettes, like the tiny worn leather seat next to a set of gleaming brass scales just below the reception desk. This is a set of jockey scales, purchased in the 1870’s following a dispute over the alteration of a costly uniform. Henry Poole decided it would be wise, if not necessarily tactful, to record a customer’s weight as well as his measurements to preclude further argument.
Beyond our main show room, the virtual tour also takes you behind scenes. You can visit the cutting room and see our bespoke samples and then move on into our archive room. Here you can dig into history and look at our beautiful olive-green leather-bound files, arranged alphabetically and dating back to 1849. You can even virtually leaf through the old ledgers containing Sir Winston Churchill’s measurements.
We believe our customers are just as interested in our history as they might be in a museum’s. There is after all something to be said for wearing clothes expertly measured, cut, stitched and fitted by tailors who have centuries of experience behind them. If museums and galleries can find a way to look at their exhibits, we thought the least we could do is to find new ways for our customers to see what’s in our shop – even from the comfort of their sofa.
Of course, it goes without saying that we still hugely look forward to welcoming you in person now that we are open. And we’d like to celebrate your return by extending our offer of 15% off selected fabrics till Christmas.
