Alfred Dunhill, Ltd.
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Alfred Dunhill, Ltd. is a British-based company, specializing in men's luxury leather goods, writing implements, lighters, timepieces, fragrances and clothing. The business was developed by Alfred Dunhill after he inherited his father's saddlery business on London's Euston Road. Dunhill, responding to the growing demand for automobiles, developed a line of accessories called "Dunhill's Motorities". This first collection included car horns and lamps, leather overcoats, goggles, picnic sets and timepieces. Dunhill pitched the company under the slogan “Everything For The Car But The Motor”.
In 1967 Carreras acquired a 51% stake in the company. The company is currently owned by Richemont.
Currently, Jude Law appears in Dunhill ads in Asia.
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[edit] Dunhill Fragrances
All fragrances sold under the Dunhill brand name are manufactured and marketed through a licensing agreement by Procter and Gamble Prestige Products division. P&G gained the license as part of their 1995 acquisition of the Wella Corporation.
[edit] Sponsorship
Alfred Dunhill was involved in sponsorship of golf tournaments, namely Alfred Dunhill Cup
[edit] Abridged Timeline
1893 – Aged 21, Alfred Dunhill takes over his father’s saddlery business and converts it into Dunhill’s Motorities, providing ‘Everything for the car but the motor’.
1903 – Dunhill’s first dashboard clock marks their entry into the timepiece arena.
1905 – Alfred Dunhill patents his Windshield Pipe, designed to allow comfortable smoking while driving or cycling.
1907 – Having retired from running the Motorities business, Alfred Dunhill opens a pipe, cigar and tobacco store among the men’s clubs of Duke Street, St. James’s, London SW1.
1910 – Dunhill opens a pipe factory near the store.
1915 – The trademark White Spot marking is added to Dunhill’s pipes.
1921 – Store opens in New York; Paris store opens three years later.
1927 – Dunhill launches the revolutionary Unique lighter, the first to be operated using just one hand.
1928 – Dunhill begins distributing the Namiki pen company’s maki-e lacquered pens.
1936 – The iconic Facet timepiece, based on Dunhill’s car head-lamp designs, is launched.
1941 – Dunhill’s Duke Street store is bombed during World War II; it was extended and rebuilt in the 1950s and recently renovated.
1956 – The Rollagas butane lighter is launched.
1963 – Manufacture of Dunhill brand cigarettes starts.
1985 – First annual Alfred Dunhill Cup golf tournament.
2000 – Dunhill Links golf championship supersedes Dunhill Cup.
2005 – Savile Row tailor Richard James, watchmaker Tom Bolt, casual-wear designer Nick Ashley and leather-smith Bill Amberg are brought on board to help revitalise the brand.
Rare and classic car event the Alfred Dunhill Motorities Tour is inaugurated.
[edit] See also
- Dunhill (cigarettes)
- Dunhill (cigar brand)
- Dunhill (fountain pens)
[edit] References
Foulkes, Nick. Dunhill By Design: A Very English Story (2006) ISBN 208030495X
Christian Barker. "High Gear", August Man magazine (Dec 2006)
