150 Year Anniversary Celebrations Begin!

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A season of cultural activities has begun in Japan to celebrate the 150th anniversary of trade relations between the UK and Japan.

On March 13, AWI hosted a drinks reception at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Tokyo, to begin celebrating the Japanese edition of the Savile Row Bespoke Group, London Cut exhibition.

British Ambassador’s Residence, Tokyo

Pascal Senkoff with Sir Graham Fry, British Ambassador from Tokyo

The renowned London Cut exhibition will be held at Isetan, Japan’s leading department store from the 19th March 2008. The exhibition creates a platform for promoting the elegant and eccentric craftsmanship of the elite tailors from the famous London Row, bringing together modern suits cut specifically for the event, with historical pieces selected from the archives of the great houses on Savile Row.

AWI has partnered with the Savile Row Bespoke Group, sponsoring the two events to mark its support of the trade UK-Japan 2008 celebrations, which showcase the highest level of British tailoring. Many of the Savile Row suits to be exhibited are cut from the finest Merino wool fabrics.

The exhibition will feature:

• Windows of Isetan Man showcasing star garments that will also be shown at the British Ambassadors Residence
• Cloth that each suit is cut from will be stretched on canvas to serve as a backdrop for the masterpieces shown in each window
• Twenty-five immaculately tailored Savile Row suits will be hand selected by James Sherwood, Curator of The London Cut, and displayed in Isetan’s seventh floor exhibition space for public viewing

These magnificent ensembles will include:

• Gieves & Hawkes Bespoke Midnight Velvet Cocktail Suit
• Dege & Skinner Cricketing Blazer and White Flannel Trousers
• Norton & Sons Bespoke Short White Tropical Dinner Suit
• Huntsman Bespoke Evening Tails

Savile Row’s relationship with Japan dates back to 1921, when founding father of Savile Row, Henry Poole & Co, dressed HIH Emperor Hirohito when the then Prince Imperial paid a state visit to London. Poole has also dressed Japanese icons such as Baron Okura, Jiro Shirasu and Japanese Premier Yoshida, which illustrates their long-standing relationship and their dedication to becoming involved with UK-Japan 08.

“Savile Row produces the world’s most respected bespoke tailoring, showcasing Australian Merino wool at its finest. AWI is proud to continue a strong relationship with the Savile Row tailors, which was established in the early 1800’s with the first trade of wool to England.” explains AWI’s General Manager of Apparel Product Marketing, Pascal Senkoff.

“We have recently commemorated 200 years of Australian wool trade to the UK with Savile Row, and we are now pleased to be joining them again to support the 150th anniversary of trade relations between the UK and Japan.”

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