Some Facts from Jonathan Sothcott's "The Jermyn Street Shirt" Book
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2021 6:14 pm
Gentlemen,
There is a new book around -- "The Jermyn Street Shirt" by Jonathan Sothcott (who is -- by his own admission -- "the king of gangster B-movies" at his day job!) As such, it's of little interest for LL members -- in many aspects, Mr Sothcott's book can be compared with the well-known "Gentleman" by Bernhard Roetzel -- but one should give the author credit for doing his homework; there are many interesting facts collected by him.
Here is what I found to be of particular interest:
* The distinctive Turnbull & Asser collar was designed by the late Doug Hayward, who stocked T&A-made RTW shirts in his Mount Street shop
* Bespoke accounts for 20-25% (hard to believe!) of H&K business. Bespoke shirts are now made in Milan, and David Gale's hand-drawn patterns are converted to CAD files.
* H&K's Scottish factory is closed for good. One can only guess where their RTW shirts are made now.
* N&L RTW shirts are made in Czech Republic; bespoke ones are "hand-made in London". Bespoke department is headed by store manager Charles Seaton, who is also now "the store's shirtmaker" (I guess this means he handles measurements).
* Bespoke accounts for only 10% of H&H business
* Emma Willis' collar is "inspired by a shirt of her husband Richard's from the now closed Cole's"
Yours,
Andrey
There is a new book around -- "The Jermyn Street Shirt" by Jonathan Sothcott (who is -- by his own admission -- "the king of gangster B-movies" at his day job!) As such, it's of little interest for LL members -- in many aspects, Mr Sothcott's book can be compared with the well-known "Gentleman" by Bernhard Roetzel -- but one should give the author credit for doing his homework; there are many interesting facts collected by him.
Here is what I found to be of particular interest:
* The distinctive Turnbull & Asser collar was designed by the late Doug Hayward, who stocked T&A-made RTW shirts in his Mount Street shop
* Bespoke accounts for 20-25% (hard to believe!) of H&K business. Bespoke shirts are now made in Milan, and David Gale's hand-drawn patterns are converted to CAD files.
* H&K's Scottish factory is closed for good. One can only guess where their RTW shirts are made now.
* N&L RTW shirts are made in Czech Republic; bespoke ones are "hand-made in London". Bespoke department is headed by store manager Charles Seaton, who is also now "the store's shirtmaker" (I guess this means he handles measurements).
* Bespoke accounts for only 10% of H&H business
* Emma Willis' collar is "inspired by a shirt of her husband Richard's from the now closed Cole's"
Yours,
Andrey
