| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retailer |
| Founded | London, England (1806) |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Key people | James Poole, Founder Angus Cundey, Owner Simon Cundey, Director |
| Products | Clothing, Fashion |
| Website | www.henrypoole.com |
Henry Poole & Co is a gentleman's bespoke tailor located at №15 Savile Row in London. The acknowledged 'Founders of Savile Row' and creators of the Dinner Suit, the company has remained a family-run business since their establishment in 1806. They opened first in Brunswick Square, in 1806, originally specializing in military tailoring, with particular merit at the time of the Battle of Waterloo. Their business moved to Savile Row in 1846, following the death of founder James Poole.
Henry Poole ran the business until his death in 1876, and was succeeded by cousin Samuel Cundey, whose legacy continued, for five generations, to the present-day owners Angus Cundey and son Simon. In the two centuries, the tailors have enjoyed great success and endured extreme difficulties, but survive to this day as the typification of excellence in bespoke men's tailoring. The company still holds many Royal Warrants, and services the Lord Chamberlain's office with court dress, with their livery department even creating uniforms for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. The company are also credited with the creation of the Dinner Suit.
The company makes regular visits to mainland Europe, the U.S. and other international locations, including Henry Poole outlets in Japan and now China. In 2006, the company celebrated their bicentennial with a refurbishment of their premises and 2007 saw a re-issue of a suiting material made famous by Winston Churchill, a Henry Poole customer who ordered his first suit 100 years ago.
Contents |
In 1860, Henry Poole made a short evening or smoking jacket for the Prince of Wales to wear at informal dinner parties at Sandringham. In 1886, a Mr. James Potter of Tuxedo Park, New York visited London and subsequently was invited by the Prince to spend a weekend at Sandringham House. He was also advised that he could have a smoking jacket made by the Prince’s tailors, Henry Poole & Co.
When the Potters returned to New York, Mr. Potter proudly wore his new smoking jacket at the Tuxedo Club and fellow members soon started having copies made for themselves which they adopted as their informal uniform for club “stag” dinners. As a result, the dinner jacket became known as a Tuxedo or Tux in America.[1]
HIM The Emperor Napoleon III 1858
HRH The Prince of Wales 1863
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 1868
HRH The Crown Prince of Prussia 1868
HM Queen Victoria 1869
HM The King of the Beligians 1869
HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark 1869
HRH The Prince of Teck 1870
HRH Prince Christian of Schleswig–Holstein 1870
The Khedive of Egypt 1870
HRH Prince Oscar of Sweden & Norway 1871
HM King Amadeus I of Spain 1871
HRH Prince Louis of Hesse 1871
HRH Crown Prince of Russia 1874
HIM The Emperor Pedro II of Brazil 1874
HIM Tsar Alexander II of Russia 1875
HM The King of Hellenes 1877
HRH The Crown Prince of Austria 1878
HM King Umberto I of Italy 1879
HIM Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany *
HIM Tsar Alexander III of Russia 1881
HG The Duke of Genoa 1891
HG Friedrich, Grossherzog of Baden 1891
HG The Duke of Aosta 1892
HRH Prince Emanuel of Savoie 1892
HIM The Shah of Persia *
HM The King of Denmark 1893
HM King Edward VII 1902
HRH Prince Albrecht of Prussia 1903
HH The Maharajah Gaekwar of Baroda 1905
HIM The Shah of Persia 1906
The Khedive of Egypt 1910
HM Queen Alexandra 1911
HRH The Prince of Wales 1922
The Imperial Household of Japan 1923
HM King George V 1928
HM The King of the Bulgarians 1936
HM King George VI 1940
HIM Emperor Haile Selassie 1959
HM Queen Elizabeth II 1976
Stephen Howarth: Henry Poole: Founders of Savile Row - The Making of a Legend. Godalming: Bene Factum, 2003. ISBN 978-1903071069