The incredible site of a grassed over Savile Row complete with flocks of grazing Bowmont and Exmoor sheep up for the day from the West Country kicked off Wool Week 2015.
The following Savile Row Bespoke Association members and associate members and leading British and Italian mills worked together to contribute a beautiful array of bespoke suits and garments to a live show for Sheep on the Row, with models mingling amongst the crowds and using our famous street as a catwalk to showcase their outfits.
Anderson & Sheppard and Holland & Sherry
Chittleborough & Morgan and Loro Piana
Davies & Sons and Dashing Tweeds
Dege & Skinner and Fox Bros & Co
Edward Sexton and Marzotto
Gieves & Hawkes and Leichtfried
H Huntsman and Harris Tweed Hebrides
Henry Poole and Johnstons of Elgin
Meyer & Mortimer and Very English Weaving Company
Norton & Sons and Harrisons 1863
Richard Anderson and Dugdale
Richard James and Vitale Barberis Canonico
Welsh & Jefferies and Bower Roebuck
The three themes, which served as inspiration for the outfits, were (pictured, from top to bottom) Bespoke, Traveller and Iceland.
A finishing touch was applied by the gentlemen’s houses of Mayfair and St. James’s, which supplied some exquisite accessories.
Two barns positioned at either end of Savile Row housed a stunning exhibition of the landscapes of the main wool growing countries of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK, the men’s barbers Murdock London hosted a ‘shearing shed’ and Campaign for Wool partners GQ magazine scouted the street, picking out those that they deemed best dressed for their special ‘wool street style’ report.
Visitors were also able to witness the fascinating processes involved in transforming wool fleece into fabric.
A slightly soggy day failed to dampen spirits and - as well as keeping the sheep happy - served to showcase what an indispensable all-weather cloth wool is on Savile Row.
Special thanks are due to The Woolmark Company, stylist Sammy Aki and Lloyd Almond for making the day possible.
Wool Week is an initiative of The Campaign For Wool, which was founded in 2010 to educate as many people as possible about the incredible benefits and versatility of wool in fashion, furnishings and everyday life. It is a global community of sheep farmers, retailers, designers, manufacturers and consumers united by its patron His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.
Pictures (one and two) by Getty and (three, four and five) by Luca Meneghel.
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