Watching Anderson & Sheppard's Tailoring

Watching Anderson & Sheppard’s Tailoring

Anderson & Sheppard has long been the sphinx of Savile Row, as known for its silence and inscrutability as its exquisite tailoring. For much of its existence, clients were referred to the house by other clients, and the company’s policy was not to speak to the press. In 2004, however, Anda Rowland became Anderson & Sheppard’s vice chairman. Her father bought the the company in the 1970s and she grew up with the tailoring house. She once recalled having visited with her father when she was ten years old. At the time, women and children were asked to wait in the front of the shop, near the benches and chairs. It was a very serious, all male environment.

Thanks to Ms. Rowland’s leadership, Anderson & Sheppard has opened up a bit. There is now a website, a blog, and cutters and tailors who don’t mind your paying them a visit in the back rooms. Additionally, there is the new vanity book coming out, A Style is Born, which is supposed to be an exuberantly overstuffed visual and historical companion to the in-shop bespoke experience.

There are also these videos shown below. Through them, Anderson & Sheppard’s tailors explain their cutting, trimming, padding, and pressing processes. Though they’re brief, they’re a wonderful look at the process that goes into making Anderson & Sheppard’s signature drape cut suits.

I’ve also included some photos that Ms. Rowland shared with me. Here we see some of their exclusive cloths, measuring process, back room workshop, and final products. They’re quite beautiful, so be sure to click through the cut at the end and have a look.