Secondly, new players have emerged — in the 1960s Tommy Nutter lit up the street with his extravagant cuts and star client list; although Nutter’s business no longer survives, two of his cutters Edward Sexton and Joe Morgan (Chittleborough & Morgan) went on to found their own businesses which are now established members of the Savile Row community. In the 1990s Ozwald Boateng and Richard James developed their eponymous businesses on the Row; and in 2001 Richard Anderson set up his eponymous business at No. 13, with business partner Brian Lishak.

Thirdly, some 80 years ago womenswear began to be produced on Savile Row — with Hardy Amies setting up his couture fashion house at No. 14 (Now the HQ of Hackett) in 1945. Now many of the houses offer sublimely tailored women’s tailoring. Most recently Daisy Knatchbull has opened her business — Knatchbull — at No. 32 Savile Row with a superb made-to-measure offering.

And, fourthly, Savile Row sits at the very epicentre of how men’s fashion has evolved in the past 200 years — from the simple pairing of the cloth for trousers and coat (or jacket) to the development of the morning suit, evening wear — initially white tie but developing to black tie and the short dinner jacket (or Tuxedo). When the Prince of Wales of the time asked Henry Poole to cut a short coat without tails for him, it led to the “business” suit (or, simply suit) that forms the core of many men’s wardrobe. Great coats, bridge coats and blazers are all rooted in Savile Row.

So, much has changed but much has not. The great old Houses continue to thrive and prosper. True Savile Row Bespoke tailoring remains unchallenged as the very best tailoring in the world. Apprentices still form the back-bone of the reputation of this street — a completed Savile Row Bespoke diploma is considered the finest tailoring qualification in the world.

With well over 100 apprenticeships completed over the past 20 years, a newly opened tailoring school (The London Academy of Bespoke) and a gradual flow of new businesses opening their doors on the Row I very much hope that in 100 years’ time someone will be saying that nothing much has changed on Savile Row!

(The author is also former chairman and CEO, Gieves & Hawkes London. Views are personal.)

Hardy Amies

A walk through Savile Row London with Mark Henderson