The London Lounge

Hi,

I was just reading an older thread on Style Forum where a poster mentioned Doug Hayward. I know he passed not too long ago, but it got me interested in what happened to his firm. I just visited Hayward's website and noticed they have announced their US trips and saw that Ritchie Charlton and Cambell Carey are the new cutters. Is this right? Were they not recently at Kilgour? Does anybody have information on Hayward today?

How interesting. Ritchie Charlton used to cut my business suits at Kilgour but that was a few years ago and I haven't visited them since. I wonder if the chesty, structured style that he cut at Kilgour will be evident at Hayward?

- C

The Kilgour boys and their financial sponsors purchased DH when it went into liquidation. The front of house remained, the inhouse tailors remained and, I believe, Doug's daughter is still working there. Because Ralph and David Lauren were spotted visiting the shop shortly after the administrators were appointed, there was speculation that RL was behind the acquisition, but I think the chatter subsided fairly quickly.

Interesting. So are these two cutters still connected to the group that bought Kilgour? Or did they find new financial investors to support them?

Who is cutting at Kilgour? Not that I am looking anymore, I am quite happy with my tailor, but its always interesting to see what is happening in the outside world.

I do not know who is behind the money. However, I doubt that they are connected to the Kilgour investors as there is no business case to invest in both.

Some [old] news from Savile Row Style magazine: http://www.savilerow-style.com/issue018/style03.htm. (Look at the bottom of sideline.)

Andrey