Tailored Stories: An Oral History of Savile Row

[andreyb]

The documentary will be completed in June (or so they promise), but a lot of interesting material is already available.

http://www.tailoredstories.org.uk

Andrey

[Russell]

Thanks for that Andrey.

Regards
Russell

[Frans]

Thank you for the tip, Andrey. Very interesting indeed. What makes the information so valuable is that each participant tells his/her story from a different angle and with a different focus. They all give you a part of the picture, so in the end you have kind of an overall view of Savile Row and its developments. E.g. the fact that many young people are attracted to the craft again was not obvious 20 years ago, as Kathryn Sargent says. Most of the participants are telling their story very openheartedly, e.g. Brian Lewis and Joe Morgan. The interviews provide you with a wealth of interesting details and anecdotes. They might have benefitted from a bit of editing, though.

[andreyb]

The film is finished and has been posted today for all to see.

https://vimeo.com/125281607

Watch it only if you are interested in the history of Savile Row... It shows exactly what is says on the package: "oral history". BBC's Savile Row documentary it is not.

Also, I found the general mood to be quite depressing... Much more depressing than actual Row is.

Andrey

[davidhuh]

Dear Andrey,

many thanks for posting this beautiful film. I love it - very well done, and very close to the different characters!

Also, I found the general mood to be quite depressing... Much more depressing than actual Row is.

I see what you mean, but I would not qualify it as depressing. What is the "actual Row"? Is it the one we see us customers, or is it the one seen through the eyes of people working there? It would be the same at the Ritz. Staying there for a couple of days or working in the kitchen peeling potatoes for twenty years is not exactly the same experience

This film gives the Row the human touch which is missing in the BBC documentary.

Cheers, David

[hectorm]

The quiet one-side tales of dark shops, apprenticeships, and long hours, plus the laconic music, don´t make for a very uplifting presentation. However, it was very enjoyable and they tried to finish it on a more optimistic note.
Overall I didn´t find it depressing and although it´s rather repetitive of what has been written and documented on the Row, you can always learn a couple of things.
It was great to see some familiar faces. Particularly Brian Lishak´s. I met him first almost 25 years ago and met him for the umpteen time just a few weeks back. A wonderful man with great love for the craft. I didn’t like that the video titled him as salesman. Mr. Lishak is a master tailor and currently a partner at Richard Anderson.
Thank you for posting this.

[gegarrenton]

I thought Lishak was just a salesman?


Neat to see all the Henry Poole workrooms, I recognized them right away.

[hectorm]

I thought Lishak was just a salesman?

Given his background in the industry and his gift at public relations, I'm sure that every SR house would love to have him as their salesman. But he's much more than that.
Mr. Lishak is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced tailors in the bespoke business that I know still active. He's been around the Row for almost 50 years, covering all the aspects of the trade and craft -front store and back store- and at one point being the Managing Director at Huntsman. He is perhaps the most recognized of "traveling" English tailors coming regularly to America.

[hectorm]

About my previous post.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgfa8r ... _lifestyle

[andreyb]

Given his background in the industry and his gift at public relations, I'm sure that every SR house would love to have him as their salesman. But he's much more than that.

Not a "salesman" perhaps, but "front of house man" for sure. According to Richard Anderson's book, this is what Mr Lishak did at Huntsman (and at Wells of Mayfair) for many years.

There is nothing shameful or profane in this position at all... George Glasgow and Mariano Rubinacci play this role as well.

Andrey

[hectorm]

Not a "salesman" perhaps, but "front of house man" for sure. There is nothing shameful or profane in this position at all...

Utterly agree. The front man in one of those larger SR firms is a key invaluable position. He makes it or brakes it for both, house and client.
In the case of Richard Anderson, our well known Peter Smith has that role. Now joined by Mr. Chudasama (it seems that their RTW line has grown a lot -even blue jeans nowadays!- and demands more manpower).

[gegarrenton]

I thought Lishak was just a salesman?

Given his background in the industry and his gift at public relations, I'm sure that every SR house would love to have him as their salesman. But he's much more than that.
Mr. Lishak is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced tailors in the bespoke business that I know still active. He's been around the Row for almost 50 years, covering all the aspects of the trade and craft -front store and back store- and at one point being the Managing Director at Huntsman. He is perhaps the most recognized of "traveling" English tailors coming regularly to America.

I'm aware of all that, but as andreyb stated, I thought he just did the sales/pr portion. I didn't know he was a master tailor. I wasn't disagreeing with you, I was just surprised. Back when he was at Huntsman I never knew him to do anything else.

[alden]

Great film.

[Frans]

The Savile Row Bespoke Association commissioned a 5 minutes' video about the process of bespoke in London.

You can see it here:
https://vimeo.com/237548363

The news is that since 2004 approx. 70 young people have been granted an apprenticeship by the association to become a tailor or a cutter in order to protect the craft. You'll meet some of the young faces in the video.

The video itself is cut too sharp, i.e. would benefit from some visual pauses in between.
Also, the end could have been better.
Anyway it offers some beautiful pictures

[old henry]

The tailor in the Vimeo is cutting the vest cross grain. Very interesting.
I'm still learning things.