T. M. Lewin

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T.M.Lewin store from circa 1900

T.M.Lewin shop in Jermyn Street

T.M.Lewin (Thomas Mayes Lewin) is a UK-based gentleman's shirtmakers. It was founded in 1898 when Thomas Mayes Lewin opened his first shop in Jermyn Street, St James's, London.

T.M.Lewin produced shirts and accessories with a history of innovation, nearly 100 years ago its founder became one of the first to make the 'coat-shirt', the groundbreaking idea of a shirt with buttons down the front. This novelty was noted in the London Opinion and Today newspaper in 1905.

An article by The Major in a November 1905 edition of London Opinion and Today stated that:

"...the shirt is shaped very much like a coat and is put on in a similar manner, fastening in the front with studs. One of its greatest advantages is that it fits closer than the ordinary shirt. Another point is that it has not, of course, to be put over the head. Thus there is no chance of a man who is accustomed to brush his hair before putting on his shirt ruffling his hair in the putting on process."

T.M.Lewin & Sons traded through both World Wars and it was during this period that the company established its reputation as the leading provider of Club Colours, becoming a major supplier to the RAF, the British Army, the School tie and the sporting community. In 1979 T.M.Lewin & Sons was acquired by the McKenna family and in 1980 Geoff Quinn, the current managing director, joined the company from Turnbull & Asser.

The McKennas and Geoff Quinn took to sourcing the shirts directly from the mills; consequently in 1983 T.M.Lewin acquired Asquith Brown, a shirt manufacturer owned by John Francomb, who subsequently became part of the T.M.Lewin management team. As a consequence of direct sourcing the company grew exponentially in the 1980’s.

In 1989 T.M.Lewin opened its second store, in Lime Street, London and in 1993 Geoff Quinn became managing director following the deaths of both McKenna brothers.

During the 1990s T.M.Lewin continued to open further stores and expand its product ranges. Creating the traditional yet contemporary store fit out which is used in all stores throughout the UK.

It was this continuing demand that led to the introduction of the classic suits in Autumn 2005, after two years of development.

Club ties are still a major part of the business with regimental ties for British Army, RAF both old units and the newer amalgamated units. Even the ties for the London 2012 Olympic bid were supplied by T.M.Lewin.

Today's store on Jermyn Street still keeps many of the old traditions, amongst them the above mentioned school ties and regimental ties, of which some belong to regiments where there are only a few survivors who still proudly wear these colours that they earned in the second world war and other fields of conflict.

Today T.M. Lewin has 46 stores in the UK and Ireland, 25 of them in Greater London, and is known in Jermyn Street and the City. Its product range now caters for both men and women and includes: