Savile Row Bespoke highlights Australian Merino Wool in Paris

9 July 2007

Australian Wool Innovation's (AWI) collaboration with the world’s most respected bespoke tailors and their representative organisation, Savile Row Bespoke, launched on the 5th of July at a unique event held at the British Ambassadors residence in Paris.

The Savile Row event highlights the influence of quality bespoke tailoring in fashion and also recognises the important role Australian Merino wool has played within the history of Bespoke tailoring dating back as far as the early 1800’s when the trade of wool was first established between Australia and the UK.

Bespoke tailors creating suits especially for Savile Row’s event at the British Ambassador’s residence include:

• Anderson & Sheppard
• Davies & Son
• Dege & Skinner
• Edward Sexton
• Gieves & Hawkes
• Henry Poole & Co, Huntsman
• Norton & Sons
• Ozwald Boateng
• Richard Anderson
• Richard James

Fabrics featured in the exhibition have been sourced from traditional Savile Row suppliers such as Abraham Moon, Moxon, Taylor & Lodge, Bowen Roebuck and Edwin Woodhouse.

The exhibition itself takes its cue from what is described as the golden era at the British Ambassador’s Residence – between 1947 and 1957 – when the home was at the centre of Parisian society.

Held at the end of the haute couture shows in Paris, it is the latest international project on the AWI calendar of events, workshops and exhibitions that commemorate 200 years since the shipping of the first bale of wool to the UK with the intent for commercial sale in 1807.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of a long-term collaboration with the distinguished Savile Row Bespoke Association who has pledged its support for the global program of events to celebrate 200 years of the Australian wool industry,” said AWI CEO Craig Welsh.

“They are an ideal group for AWI to work with as their ability to balance traditional techniques with the world’s best materials and the use of innovation perfectly mirrors our own objectives. We look forward to even more exciting initiatives”.

Savile Row Bespoke, the body that represents the key bespoke tailoring houses of the Row, has been established to protect and develop the art of Bespoke Tailoring on Savile Row. The group was established in 2004.

Speaking at the event, Mark Henderson, Chairman of Savile Row Bespoke made the following comment:

“Savile Row is the birthplace and pinnacle of bespoke men’s tailoring and it continues to be recognised the world over as such. To show the similarities between Savile Row and Haute Couture is yet another example of Savile Row’s enduring international popularity and its standing as the best in the world.”

“We are grateful to be working with AWI and for their support of this event. Savile Row and Australian Wool share a long and proud history and we look forward to working together in the future to celebrate this history and maintain our world class standards and popularity.”

The core of Savile Row Bespoke’s activities are as follows:

• Training – working to provide training and apprenticeships for those wishing to become tailors or to learn about tailoring
• Promotion – working to promote the art of Bespoke Tailoring and to promote the interests of other retailers and tenants of the Row whose businesses are sympathetic to the aims of SRB
• London – working with local government and other organisations to maintain and develop London’s unique position as one of the world’s great cities.
• Intellectual Property – ensuring that the term Savile Row Bespoke Tailoring is not abused nor devalued

For further information, please visit www.savilerowbespoke.com

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