As Hackett returns to "The Row", our founder reflects on his early career, his love for Great British tailoring, and explains what customers can expect from our new townhouse, J.P. Hackett No.14 Savile Row.
"Savile Row has always been a significant part of my life. When I first came to London as a 21-year-old with little knowledge of tailoring, I worked on the King's Road in a number of boutiques, and was then offered a job on Savile Row at a tailor's shop called John Micheal. The man who owned it, Mr Ingram, was a really inspirational retailer - he taught me an awful lot. One of London's most famous tailors, Anderson & Sheppard, used to be on the corner of the Row and Clifford Street, and I really admired that shop too.
Of course, when I left to open Hackett on the New King's Road in Fulham, this connection to Savile Row was maintained. When we first started to create our own collections, we offered a ready-to-wear take on Savile Row tailoring. I used the same quality cloths and the same sort of designs - we created the same "look" as it were. I remember one morning, the Household Cavalry were out exercising their horses on the New King's Road. A troop of them stopped right outside the shop, and the commanding officer got off his horse, poked his head through our shop door and asked "are my alterations ready?" They were, so he picked them up, got back on his horse and off the Cavalry went! Those early days were filled with characters.
Now, this story has come full circle; in opening J.P. Hackett No.14 Savile Row, Hackett has a new home in London's Mayfair, which will offer an exclusive ready-to-wear collection, and bespoke tailoring made with the very best workmanship on Savile Row, with suits cut to reflect our signature British look. We're extremely proud of our new townhouse, and very much hope to welcome you to The Row soon."