The London Lounge

A nice little film. Are there any Henry Poole customers among us?

http://vimeo.com/65731270

Andrey

Very well done indeed Andrey! Thank you for posting!
(Not a Poole customer, sorry)

Cheers, D

Thanks! Indeed very well done. I appreciate the personal/moral perspective in here.

Wonderful film, very enjoyable. Thank you.

andreyb wrote:A nice little film. Are there any Henry Poole customers among us?

http://vimeo.com/65731270

Andrey

Enjoyed the film. Thank you! I'm a happy Poole customer....

Also a happy Poole customer, though my current commission in progress is from Edwin (navy Piuma SB blazer). I'm not sure what's cultivated it, but I have found the feeling of responsibility to the craft and to the "posterity" of the firm as shown in the film to be deep and abiding with everyone there since my first contact with them around nine years ago.

Two anecdotes. Collarmelton, a former LL member and my introduction at Poole, had commissioned a fairly extensive wardrobe from them in the early aughties. You may recall a few years back there was a serious scare about a plot to bomb a UK-to-NYC-bound airliner, resulting in a virtual lockdown at Heathrow, flight disruptions, and the quarantine/destruction of quite a bit of luggage/cargo. As it happened, several finished suits bound for Collarmelton were at Heathrow on that day, and they simply disappeared. One hopes Poole had insured them with the carrier, but I'm not sure standard insurance covers terrorist acts or their fallout. Nonetheless, there was never any question: the cutter informed Collarmelton that all the suits would be remade at Poole's expense, with an apology for the delay.

It also says something that, while I'm sure Poole has the usual staff turnover as younger members advance their careers when openings occur at other firms, the only person I came in contact with there who's left the trade was a young striker who left it to become, not a programmer or business entrepreneur, but a cabinetmaker.

Lovely film. Thanks for posting it.

Gentlemen,

There is a nice anecdote told by Prince Asfa Wossen-Asserate. His father was a Poole customer, like Emperor Haile Selassie himself. Likely in the sixties, he joined his father Leul Ras Asserate to the tailor. The cutter and his father disappeared to take measures, when all of a sudden, the cutter screamed and returned as white as chalk to the front room. The measuring tape trembling in his hands, he said: "He's got a bloody gun!" The director lifted an eyebrow and said: "So what about it?"

Cheers, David

So satisfying to see there are young people who appreciate craft and understand it is the foundation (together with imagiantion) of all art.