Moss Bros.

[rip]

Some many years back, I picked up a hacking jacket at a thrift shop in Brooklyn, NY. It's beautifully made, in a heavy tan, brown and green Glen Plaid wool with a wonderful hand. It's 3-button, double-vented, slanted flapped pockets (2) with a single working button on each sleeve. The label only says "Moss Bros. Covent Gardens" There is an in-pocket label which also says "Moss Bros." and several hand-written numbers.

I understand that Moss Bros. rented hunting attire, although this jacket seems far too well made (full canvas, working sleeve buttonholes, etc...) for the kind of rental stock I've found here in the US.

Does anyone on the forum have further information on Moss Bros.? Did they retail as well as rent? Who tailored for them, etc...? Are they still in existence?

[RWS]

. . . . Are [Moss Bros.] . . . still in existence?

Yes. You may find more information at their website.

[Concordia]

This goes back 20 years, but Moss Bros was not only he go-to place for rental-- they also did retail and a modest amount of bespoke. I remember asking, and the guy behind the counter supplied a quote for a suit "cut by me." Never followed through, or had the nerve to go to a more mainstream SR house. Someone should have taken a 2x4 to my head and explained to me that the pound would never again be as low as $1.20.

[Leon]

Regrets, I've had a few, but too few to mention...

Moss Bross are still in existence, and their largest shop is still in Covent Garden. I rented a DJ from them when a teenager once. They must be the largest rental firm in the UK. Especially popular for morning clothes: weddings and Ascot...

Never knew they were tailors as well.

Leon

[bengal-stripe]

Moss Bross are still in existence, and their largest shop is still in Covent Garden....Never knew they were tailors as well.

Today’s Moss Bros is much smaller than it used to be. They were opposite their present premises (now Tesco) and I believe they occupied the entire corner building (some four floors). Most of the space used for retail, with the hire section in the basement. A vast, mid-price men's fashion "emporium".

Of course, Moss Bros is most famous (probably infamous) for rental. But I’ve never heard of anyone renting a tweed hacking jacket. Those are items you own, (a “hunting pink” (red) tailcoat is another matter). It is very likely they had a made-to-measure section right into the 1970s.

[rip]

Thanks for the info. I've been unable to find their website; mossbrothers.com doesn't do it (there's a band by that name which has that website). Anyone have that information?

I love my jacket. It's the only jacket of that style I own, and though bought in a thrift shop 20 years ago, it fits as though it were tailored for me. I've had to patch and repatch the lining, and this year I plan on replacing it completely (the lining, not the jacket). Living in NY, the jacket was almost always a bit too heavy for wear, what with overheated buildings and transit; since I now spend my winters in eastern Europe and Russia, the jacket is perfect.

[andreyb]

rip,

Try this: http://www.mossbros.co.uk/

Andrey