All Mix Blog

According to the Financial Times , a new 'Made in Britain' seal is being designed to help consumers identify products that are genuinely manufactured in the UK. The campaign is spearheaded by Stoves , a Merseyside cooker manufacturer. The FT article states that Stoves has found ' 40 per cent of Britons erroneously believe that HP Sauce is still made in the UK. In fact, HP Sauce abandoned manufacturing in Birmingham after more than a century in favour of the Netherlands five years ago.' M&I agrees that there is a need for an official 'stamp of approval' for UK goods. There is a distinct lack of promotion and protection for UK manufacturers. On a luxury level members of Savile Row created a Bespoke Association in 2004, similar to the Chambre Synidcale de la Haute Couture in Paris (founded in 1973.) If UK products are to help the country grow once again, this new logo needs proper consideration. A quick search however, provides some concerning evidence that ...

We highly recommend this tome on the history of Savile Row by James Sherwood (Thames & Hudson.) Beautifully designed and impressively in-depth the book is a fitting tribute to one of the greatest shopping streets in the world. (Pictures from Savile Row: The Master Tailors of British Bespoke - RRP £45 but available for a lower price on certain online retail sites)

M&I joined a bunch of farmers, tailors and some hacks on Savile Row yesterday to mark the start of National Wool Week. On a beautifully sunny day, the Row was turned in to a mini strip of countryside - complete with two flocks of sheep ( Wiltshire Exmoor Horns and Bowmonts from Devon, if you're interested) and gents in corduroy milling about. We were lucky enough to meet Patrick, chief cutter at Huntsman , who showed us the entire business, from stock rooms through to the tailors at the top of the building. During our tour Patrick told us about the democratic selection process of the season's Huntsman tweed whereby each sample is laid out on the floor for a month to be walked over and ticked with chalk when favoured. A simple way to cast a vote. We also discussed making suits for demanding Arabic customers, Millwall Football Club and Colin Hammick , the famous Huntsman tailor who passed away in 2008. Thank you to the organisers of Savile Row Field Day and special thanks to ...