Save Savile Row !

A placard wielding gaggle of besuited ladies and gents descended on London's Savile Row this week to protest against the proposed arrival of high street brand Abercrombie & Fitch. Organised by satirical magazine, The Chap.

The best dressed protest ever witnessed on the streets of the city marched it's peaceful message from no.3 Savile Row, around the corner to A&F's Burlington Gardens flagship store. Waving home made banners and chanting 'Give Three Piece a Chance' (adapted from John Lennon's classic) the dapper chaps and chapesses were demonstrating against what they see as the potential demise of a street synonymous with traditional bespoke tailoring. 

The Row has a bespoke tailoring history dating back over two centuries. Yesterday's Guardian reported 'It was here that tailors made the uniform worn by Horatio Nelson when he was killed at the Battle of Trafalgar; it was here that Edward VII invented the dinner jacket. Savile Row is where the 20th century's most iconic fashion moments were dreamt up: production on Hollywood movies would be halted while actors from Rudolph Valentino to Frank Sinatra were flown over to the Row to have a waistcoat cut properly'. Clearly, the reputation of the row knows no equal.

Abercrombie & Fitch are an American chain store selling casual wear the world over. The Row is a unique street, selling a traditional bespoke service, recognised the world over. Currently it's THE place to go once you can afford life's little luxuries, but if Westminster Council grants the A&F application all that is set to drastically change.


By allowing a high street brand to trade on the Row, is it only a matter of time before it becomes just another shopping street, losing the exclusivity and reputation for excellence that it's many esteemed clients value so highly? Here at Get Waisted, as practitioners of the bespoke craft, we definitely think so and hope the council sees sense in preserving it for generations to come.