Henry Poole & Co

Henry Poole & Co is a bespoke tailor located at №15 Savile Row in London. The company made the first modern-style dinner jacket based on specifications that the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) gave the company in the 1880s. The company advertises its long relationship with the British Royal Family.

Henry Poole & Co
Private
IndustryRetailer
FoundedLondon, England (1806)
HeadquartersLondon, England
Key people
James Poole, Founder
Angus Cundey, Owner
Simon Cundey, Director
ProductsClothing, Fashion
Websitewww.henrypoole.com
Henry Poole & Co on Savile Row, London (2014)
Customers examine the wares of Henry Poole and Co. in their 18th century showroom on Savile Row (1944)
A view of the workroom at Henry Poole and Co., showing tailors at work on various types of jacket, including a naval officer's jacket, second from right on the rear row. The men are all sitting on the workbenches. (1944)
The model David Gandy wearing a bespoke suit by Henry Poole & Co (2014)

History

The business 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.

The company still holds many royal warrants of appointment, 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. 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.

The Dinner Suit

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]

Warrants

Henry Poole has had customers who belonged to royalty and the highest aristocracy. Amongst the many customers who issued official warrants or were regulars were:

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See also

References
  1. "The Henry Poole Story: The Tuxedo". Henry Poole and Co. Archived 2008-05-10 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading
  • Stephen Howarth: Henry Poole: Founders of Savile Row - The Making of a Legend. Godalming: Bene Factum, 2003. ISBN 978-1-903071-06-9

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