Hawes & Curtis, a high-end London shirt maker and tailor, began life in the Piccadilly Arcade when, in 1913, Ralph Hawes and Frederick George Curtis hung out a shingle. London’s exquisitely charming arcades are proto-shopping malls from the Victorian era and, in them, you can buy jewels, George III silver, 18th Century oil paintings, French perfumes, antique toy soldiers, bespoke shirts and much else besides. In its storied 110 year history, H&C have held four Royal Warrants, designations from senior Royals who use the products. H&C’s included one from the Duke of Windsor, later King Edward VIII, a guy with a wide range of friends across pre-war Europe. Other noteable patrons included Cary Grant and Fred Astaire. By 2002, the firm had fallen on hard times and businessman Touker Suleyman waltzed in, buying the place for £1. I just ordered a jacket from them and its due to land any day.
© 2024 John Oliver
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